West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 200 - Foresters › Title 200 - LEGISLATIVE RULE STATE BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF FORESTERS › Series 200-02 - Contested Case Hearing Procedure › Section 200-2-3 - Hearing Procedure

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
3.1. Any
				applicant denied a license or any licensee who has had their license suspended
				by the Board who believes such denial was in violation of W. Va. Code ''30-1-1
				et seq. and/or 30-19-1 et seq. shall be entitled to a hearing on the action
				denying or suspending such license.
3.2. Any person who desires a hearing for the
				reason described in subsection 3.1 of this section must present a written
				demand for such to the Board.
3.3.
				When the chair of the Board or his or her authorized designee is presented with
				such a demand for a hearing, he or she shall schedule a hearing within
				forty-five (45) days of receipt by him or her of such written demand, unless
				postponed to a later date by mutual agreement.
3.4. Charges may be instituted against any
				licensee by the Board when probable cause exists for believing that the
				licensee may have engaged in conduct, practices or acts in such condition that
				his or her license should be suspended, revoked or otherwise disciplined for
				one or more of the grounds set forth in W. Va. Code '30-19-1 et seq. or the
				Board's legislative rules. Charges may be based upon information received by
				way of a verified written complaint filed with the Board and further
				information gathered by the Board in the process of investigating such
				complaint. Charges may also be based upon information received solely through
				investigative activities undertaken by the Board.
3.5. Charges instituted against a licensee as
				described in subsection 3.4 of this section shall be set forth in a Complaint
				and Notice of Hearing issued in the name of the Board as the agency of the
				state regulating the practice of forestry. Such Complaint and Notice of Hearing
				shall designate the Board as the "Complainant", and shall designate the
				licensee involved in the proceeding as the "Respondent"; shall set out the
				substance of each offense charged with sufficient particularity to reasonably
				apprise the Respondent of the nature, time and place of the conduct or
				condition complained of therein; and shall state the date, time and place for
				the hearing.
3.6. Upon receipt of a
				demand for a hearing described in subsections 3.1 and 3.2 of this section, the
				chair or his or her designee shall provide the demanding party, with a
				Complaint and Notice of Hearing issued in the name of the Board as the agency
				of the state regulating the practice of forestry. Such Complaint and Notice of
				Hearing shall designate the demanding party as the "Complainant" and shall
				designate the Board as the "Respondent"; shall set out the substance of each
				and every reason that the Board has denied the demanding party a license with
				sufficient particularity to reasonably apprise the demanding party of the
				nature, time and place of the conduct or condition at issue therein; and shall
				state the date, time and place for the hearing.
3.7. The Board may amend the charges set
				forth in a Complaint and Notice of Hearing as it deems proper.
3.8. A Complaint and Notice of Hearing shall
				be served upon the demanding or charged party at least thirty (30) days prior
				to the date of hearing.
3.9. Upon
				written motion received by the Board no later than twenty (20) days prior to
				the date of hearing, a more definite statement of the matters charged or the
				reasons stated for denial of licensure shall be provided to the demanding or
				charged party or his or her counsel, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the
				hearing date.
3.10. Hearings shall
				be conducted as follows:
3.10.1. Any party to
				a hearing shall have the right to be represented by an attorney-at-law, duly
				qualified to practice law in the state of West Virginia.
3.10.2. The Board shall be represented by the
				West Virginia Attorney General's Office.
3.10.3. Irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly
				repetitious evidence shall be excluded from the hearing. Furthermore, the rules
				of evidence as applied in civil cases in the circuit courts of this state shall
				be followed. However, when necessary to ascertain facts not reasonably
				susceptible of proof under those rules, evidence not admissible thereunder may
				be admitted, except where precluded by statute, if it is of a type commonly
				relied upon by reasonably prudent persons in the conduct of their
				affairs
3.10.4. The rules of
				privilege recognized by the law of this state shall be followed.
3.10.5. Objections to evidentiary offers
				shall be noted in the record. Any party to the hearing may vouch the record as
				to any excluded testimony or other evidence.
3.10.6. Any party to a hearing may appear
				with witnesses to testify on his or her behalf; may be heard in person, by
				counsel or both; may present such other evidence in support of his or her
				position as deemed appropriate by the Board and, when appropriate, may
				cross-examine witnesses called by the Board in support of the charges or in
				defense of its decision to deny licensure or a permit.
3.10.7. The hearing shall be held at such
				time and place as is designated by the Board, but no hearing shall be conducted
				unless and until at least thirty (30) days written notice thereof has been
				served upon the charged or demanding party and/or his or her attorney in
				person; or if he or she cannot be found, by delivering such notice at his or
				her usual place of abode and giving information of its purport, to his wife or
				her husband, or to any other person found there who is a member of his or her
				family and above the age of sixteen (16) years; or if neither his wife or her
				husband nor any such person can be found there, and he or she cannot be found,
				by leaving such notice posted at the front door of such place of abode; or if
				he or she does not reside in this state, such notice may be served by the
				publication thereof once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper
				published in this state; or such notice may by served by registered or
				certified mail.
3.10.8. The hearing
				shall be open to the general public.
3.10.9. Members of the Board and its
				officers, agents and employees shall be competent to testify at the hearing as
				to material and relevant matters: Provided, that no member of the Board who
				testifies at such hearing shall thereafter participate in the deliberations or
				decisions of the Board with respect to the case in which he
				testified.
3.10.10. The hearing
				shall be conducted by a quorum of the Board.
3.10.11. A record of the hearing, including
				the complaint(s), if applicable, the notice of hearing, all pleadings, motions,
				rulings, stipulations, exhibits, documentary evidence, evidentiary depositions
				and the stenographic report of the hearing, shall be made and a transcript
				thereof maintained in the Board's files. Upon request, a copy of the transcript
				shall be furnished to any party at his or her expense.
3.10.12. Documentary evidence may be received
				in the form of copies or excerpts or by incorporation by reference.
3.10.13. Where a hearing is held upon the
				instance of the Board after charges have been brought against a licensee
				pursuant to subsection 3.4 and 3.5 of this section, the Board shall have the
				burden of proof and shall present its evidence and/or testimony in support of
				the charges first.
3.10.14. Where a
				hearing is held upon demand under the provisions of subsections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3,
				and 3.6 of this action, the demanding party shall have the burden of proof and
				shall therefore be required to present his or her evidence first.
3.10.15. Following the conclusion of the
				Board's presentation of evidence in accordance with subsection 3.10.13 of this
				section the Respondent or charged party shall have the right to submit his or
				her evidence in defense.
3.10.16.
				Following the conclusion of the demanding party's presentation of evidence in
				accordance with subsection 3.10.14 of this section, the Board shall have the
				right to offer its evidence in rebuttal.
3.10.17. The Board may call witnesses to
				testify in support of its decision to deny licensure or in support of the
				charges instituted against a licensee; may present such other evidence to
				support its position; and, may cross-examine witnesses called by the demanding
				party or charged party in support of his or her position.
3.10.18. All parties shall have the right to
				offer opening and closing arguments, not to exceed ten (10) minutes for each
				presentation.
3.10.19. Hearings
				held by the Board as a result of charges instituted against a licensee may be
				continued or adjourned to a later date or different place by the Board or its
				designee by appropriate notice to all parties.
3.10.20. Motions for a continuance of a
				hearing may be granted upon a showing of good cause. Motions for continuance
				must be in writing and received in the office of the Board no later than seven
				(7) days before the hearing date. In determining whether good cause exists,
				consideration will be given to the ability of the party requesting the
				continuance to proceed effectively without a continuance. A motion for a
				continuance filed less than seven (7) days from the hearing date may be denied
				unless the reason for the motion could not have been ascertained earlier.
				Motions for continuance filed prior to the date of hearing shall be ruled on by
				the chair or secretary of the Board. All other motions for continuance shall be
				ruled on by the Board.
3.10.21. All
				motions related to a case set for hearing before the Board, except motions for
				continuance and those made during the hearing, shall be in writing and shall be
				received in the office of the Board at least ten (10) days before the hearing.
				Prehearing motions shall be heard at a prehearing conference or at the hearing
				prior to the commencement of testimony. The Board member(s) presiding at the
				hearing shall hear the motions and the response from the non-moving party and
				shall rule on such motions accordingly.