Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 19, September 20, 2024
A. The
Secretary may immediately suspend a license on finding that the public health,
safety, or welfare imperatively requires emergency action.
B. The Department shall deliver a written
notice to the assisted living program:
(1)
Informing the program of the emergency suspension;
(2) Giving the reasons for the action and the
regulation or regulations with which the licensee has failed to comply that
forms the basis for the emergency suspension; and
(3) Notifying the assisted living program of
its right to request a hearing and to be represented by counsel.
C. The filing of a hearing request
does not stay the emergency action.
D. When a license is suspended by emergency
action:
(1) The assisted living program shall
immediately return the license to the Department;
(2) The assisted living program shall stop
providing assisted living services immediately;
(3) The assisted living manager or alternate
manager shall notify the residents or representatives of the residents, or if
applicable, the representative of the residents of the suspension and make
every reasonable effort to assist them in making other assisted living
arrangements; and
(4) The assisted
living manager or alternate manager shall immediately notify the local
department of social services Adult Protective Services Program of the
emergency action.
E. In
the event of an emergency suspension, the Department may assist in the
relocation of residents.
F. A
person aggrieved by the action of the Secretary under this regulation may
appeal the Secretary's action by filing a request for a hearing consistent with
Regulation .64 of this chapter.
G.
Show Cause Hearing.
(1) In addition to the
right to request a hearing consistent with Regulation .64 of this chapter, a
person aggrieved by the action of the Secretary under this regulation shall be
provided with the opportunity for a hearing to show cause why the Department
should lift the summary suspension.
(2) If requested in writing, the show cause
hearing shall be held promptly within a reasonable time after the effective
date of the order of summary suspension. The time limit for filing an appeal
with the Office of Administrative Hearings to obtain an evidentiary hearing
shall be followed by the filing of a request for a show cause
hearing.
(3) The show cause hearing
shall be a nonevidentiary hearing to provide the parties with an opportunity
for oral argument on the summary suspension.
(4) The show cause hearing shall be conducted
before the Secretary or a designee of the Secretary, who:
(a) Shall determine procedural
issues;
(b) May impose reasonable
time limits on each party's oral argument; and
(c) Shall make rulings reasonably necessary
to facilitate the effective and efficient operation of the show cause
hearing.
(5) At the
conclusion of the show cause hearing, the Secretary or the Secretary's designee
may:
(a) Affirm the order of summary
suspension;
(b) Rescind the order
of summary suspension;
(c) Enter
into a consent order; or
(d) Enter
into an interim order warranted by the circumstances of the case, including one
providing for a stay of the summary suspension subject to certain
conditions.
(6) After
the show cause hearing, if the Secretary or the Secretary's designee decides to
continue the summary suspension, the person aggrieved by the decision may
request an evidentiary hearing before the Office of Administrative Hearings
consistent with Regulation .64 of this chapter.
H. Hearing.
(1) The Office of Administrative Hearings
shall conduct a hearing as provided in Regulation .64 of this chapter and issue
a proposed decision within the time frames set forth in COMAR
28.02.01.
(2) An aggrieved person
may file exceptions pursuant to COMAR 10.01.03.
(3) The Secretary shall make a final decision
pursuant to COMAR 10.01.03.
(4) If
the Secretary's final decision does not uphold the emergency suspension, the
assisted living program may resume operation.