Source: https://www.azoah.com/Vol31.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 16:45:07+00:00

Document:
As an example, if an ALJ Decision were personally served on a representative of the agency on Day 1 and also mailed on Day 1, the agency would have to act by Day 31, even though, had the decision only been mailed, the agency would have had until Day 36. As will be explained later, the actual day of personal service or mailing is not counted.
There is another rule for boards or commissions that meet monthly or less frequently.8 The essential rule is that a board or commission must act within five days of its next meeting after receipt of the ALJ Decision IF the ALJ decison was received more than 30 days before the meeting. If the ALJ Decision is received less than 30 days before its next meeting, then the board or commission has until five days after the following meeting in which to act on the ALJ Decision.
For example, if an ALJ Decision was personally served on a board or commission on Day 1 and also mailed on Day 1, and the next meeting of the board or commission was held on Day 32, the board or commission would have to act within 5 days of that meeting. However, had the decision only been mailed, it would not have to act at that meeting because it was held within 35 days of mailing (remembering that 5 days is added to statutorily establish receipt). The board or commission would be able to forego acting at its next meeting and address it at the following meeting. Thus, if the ALJ decision is mailed on October 1 and the next two board or commission meetings are scheduled for October 15 and November 15, the board or commission need not consider the matter until November 15. The board or commission would have until November 20 to act on the ALJ Decision.
The countdown for action by an agency, board or commission begins the day after personal service or mailing.11 So, if an ALJ Decision is sent on Day 1, the thirtieth day for personal service is Day 31. Likewise, the thirty-fifth day for mailing is Day 36.
If the due date for action by an agency, board or commission is on a Sunday or other holiday, the Sunday or holiday is excluded and the due date extended to the next non-holiday.12 For example, if the agency, board or commission action due date were on Sunday, May 30, 2004 and the next day is Memorial Day, the agency action would be due the next day, Tuesday, June 1, 2004.
When an ALJ Decision is mailed, a docket entry is created that counts thirty-five days from the entry of the docket event. In the cases of boards or commissions meeting monthly or less frequently, the next meeting date of the board or commission is established and five days are added. That date is substituted for the thirty-five day docket entry. If the next meeting date, however, is less than 30 days from receipt of the ALJ Decision, the date of the following meeting is established and 5 days are added. In both cases, the due date is adjusted if the day falls on a Sunday or other holiday.
In the event of personal service, the due dates created above will be modified to reflect a sooner date if personal service is completed within five days of mailing. If personal service is later than 5 days after mailing, the thirty-five days after mailing will control as being the sooner of the two dates.
These due dates are tracked and, should the due date for agency, board or commission action pass without the OAH’s receipt of an acceptance, rejection or modification, a certification document will be generated.
In the case of boards or commissions meeting quarterly or less frequently, the due date will be adjusted for any continuances granted for good cause.
When accepting an ALJ Decision, the agency head, board or commission must send a copy of the original ALJ Decision to all parties.13 The agency, board or commission cannot remand a matter. In the event of a rejection or modification, the agency, board or commission must send the original ALJ Decision to all parties along with the reasons for any modification or rejection.
Agencies, boards or commissions can use any method as long as the action is actually received on the due date. Fax transmissions are stamped the date of the transmission, even if received after business hours. E-mails are stamped the date posted to the Internet.
The action of the agency, board or commission accepting, rejecting or modifying the ALJ Decision must actually be received by the OAH on the due date.15 Therefore, an agency action which is mailed on Day 28 after personal service, but not received by the OAH until Day 32 will not serve to avoid certification of the ALJ Decision by the OAH.
When an agency, board or commission action is received, a docket entry is made dated the same date as the date of receipt. If multiple submissions are made, the earliest action tolls the countdown to certification.
2. Pursuant to A.R.S. § 41 -1092.08, and A.R.S. § 1-243 the [name of agency, board or commission] was required to accept, reject or modify the Administrative Law Judge Decision, as evidenced by receipt of such action by the Office of Administrative Hearings, on or before [date plus 30 for personal service; date plus 35 for mailing; date of meeting of board or commission plus 5 days].
3. No action by [name of agency, board or commission] was received by the Office of Administrative Hearings as of [date plus 30 for personal service; date plus 35 for mailing; date of meeting of board or commission plus 5 days]. Therefore, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41 -1092.08(D), the attached Administrative Law Judge Decision is certified as the final administrative decision of the [name of agency, board or commission].
You have the right to request a rehearing from the [agency, board or commission] pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1092.09(A). In addition, you have the right to appeal your action to the Superior Court, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1092.08(H) although you may be required to seek a rehearing from the (agency, board or commission) before you appeal (see A.R.S. § 41-1092.09(B)). Your further rights will be lost if you do not act in a timely manner. You may wish to review these sections as quickly as possible after receipt of this notice. They can be located at your local library or on the internet at http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.asp.
The certification rate for ALJ Decisions in FY 2003 was 1.95%. As of April 30, 2004, the certification rate for ALJ Decisions in FY 2004 is 2.7%.
4 The certification process became applicable to ALJ Decisions transmitted after August 21, 1998.
12 See footnote 9, above.

References: § 41
 § 1
 § 41
 § 41
 § 41
 § 41