Opinion ID: 1168718
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the merits of the department's order

Text: The district court concluded that there had been a violation of procedural due process and consequently it did not review the merits of the Department's order, i.e., it did not review whether that order was arbitrary, capricious or characterized by an abuse of discretion. The district court's review was limited to the record before it and therefore it was and is in no better position than this Court to determine whether, based on the findings, the evidence and the conclusions, the Department's order was arbitrary, capricious or characterized by an abuse of discretion. The State legislature, under the broad concept of police power, may enact laws concerning the health, safety and welfare of the people so long as the regulations are not arbitrary or unreasonable. See Jones v. State Board of Medicine, 97 Idaho 859, 555 P.2d 399 (1976). We find no substantial contention that the relevant statutes and regulations are arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable on their face, but only that they were arbitrarily and capriciously applied against the Van Ordens and their facility. We have reviewed the evidence presented to the hearing officer. His findings regarding the quantity, quality and accessibility of staff, as well as those findings regarding the need for increased staff, the accidental death, the unfenced stream, the instance of staff abandonment, the inoperative fire alarm system and the discharge of firearms are all supported by the record. Those findings support the conclusion that the license application should be denied. We hold that the denial of the full license and the summary suspension of the provisional license were not arbitrary, capricious or characterized by an abuse of discretion. The decision of the district court is hereby reversed and the order of the Department denying the full license and suspending the provisional license is therefore reinstated. Costs to appellants. No attorney fees on appeal. BAKES, C.J., and McFADDEN, BISTLINE and DONALDSON, JJ., concur.