Current through Rules and Regulations filed through December 18, 2024
(1)
Request
for Hearing - To contest the Commission's proposed disciplinary
sanction, an educator must request a hearing within thirty (30) calendar days
after service of notice of the Commission's probable cause finding and proposed
sanction.
(a) A request for hearing is
defined as a clear written expression by the educator or his/her authorized
representative that the educator wants the opportunity to contest the
Commission's proposed sanction. Said written expression must be mailed,
transmitted by facsimile, or personally delivered to the Professional Practices
Section of the Commission within thirty (30) calendar days after service of
notice of the Commission's probable cause finding and proposed
sanction.
(b) If the educator
timely requests a hearing, an opportunity for hearing shall be afforded the
educator as provided in O.C.G.A. §
50-13-41.
(c) The failure of an educator to request a
hearing within thirty (30) calendar days after service of notice of the
Commission's probable cause finding and proposed sanction shall operate as a
waiver of the educator's right to contest the proposed sanction and the
proposed sanction shall become the final decision of the Commission.
(2)
Extended Time for
Request - The Commission may, in the exercise of its discretion for good
cause shown, allow a request for hearing to be made beyond the thirty (30)
calendar day period.
(a) A petition to allow
a request for hearing to be made beyond the thirty (30) calendar day period
must be made in writing, must contain the information required by O.C.G.A.
§
50-13-9.1, and must contain a
statement clearly outlining why the request for hearing was not timely made.
Although the Commission may grant an oral hearing regarding a petition for late
filing, the Commission may consider the petition based solely upon the written
submission of the educator or his/her authorized representative.
(3)
Denial or Dismissal of
Hearing Requests - A request for hearing may be denied or dismissed for
the following reasons:
(a) The Commission may
deny or dismiss a request for hearing if it has been withdrawn by the educator
or if the educator or his/her authorized representative does not submit a
written request for hearing within thirty (30) calendar days after service of
notice of the Commission's probable cause finding and proposed
sanction.
(b) The Administrative
Law Judge may deny or dismiss a request for hearing pursuant to the Rules of
the Office of State Administrative Hearings if it has been withdrawn by the
educator or if the educator fails to appear at a hearing scheduled by the
Office of State Administrative Hearings for such educator.
(4)
Filing of Answer - Within
thirty (30) calendar days after service of the Notice of Hearing issued by the
Administrative Law Judge of the Office of State Administrative Hearings, the
educator must, under oath, answer and respond by filing an Answer with the
Office of State Administrative Hearings either admitting, claiming insufficient
knowledge to admit or deny, or denying each and every allegation contained in
the Statement of Matters Asserted attached to the Notice of Hearing. If
represented by counsel, the answer may be filed by the educator's counsel and
need not be verified under oath by the educator.
(a) All allegations which are not
specifically answered are deemed to be admitted.
(b) All allegations which the educator claims
to have insufficient knowledge to admit or deny are deemed to be
denied.
(c) The failure of the
educator to answer and respond as set forth above may be grounds for the
Administrative Law Judge to enter a default order against the educator pursuant
to the rules of the Office of State Administrative Hearings.
O.C.G.A. Secs.
20-2-200,
20-2-982,
20-2-984,
20-2-984.5,
50-13-9.1,
50-13-13,
50-13-17,
50-13-18,
50-13-40,
50-13-41.