358-5.2 Scheduling.
(a) The fair hearing will be held at a time and place convenient to the
appellant as far as practicable. In scheduling the hearing, OAH will consider such things
as the physical inability of the appellant to travel to the regular hearing location.
(b) Priority scheduling.
(1) Except as set forth in paragraph (4) of
this subdivision, a fair hearing which is subject to priority processing pursuant to
Section 358-3.2 of this Part must be scheduled as soon as practicable after the request
therefor is made. In determining the date for which the hearing will be scheduled,
consideration must be given to the nature and urgency of the appellant's situation,
including any date before which the decision must be issued to allow for meaningful
resolution of the issue under review.
(2) When a hearing is requested concerning food
stamp benefits and the food stamp household intends to move from the local social services
district before the decision normally would be issued, priority will be given to the
scheduling of the hearing, taking into account any date before which the hearing must be
scheduled to allow for the appellant to receive the decision while still in the district.
(3) Except as set forth in paragraph (4) of
this subdivision, after a hearing which was scheduled on a priority basis as set forth
above, the decision must be issued as soon as practicable. In determining the date by
which the decision will be issued, consideration must be given to the nature and urgency
of the appellant's situation, including any date before which the decision must be issued
to allow for meaningful resolution of the issue under review. If, at the conclusion of a
hearing which was scheduled on a priority basis, the hearing officer determines that the
issues do not warrant continued priority processing, the hearing officer will inform the
parties that the issuance of the decision will not receive priority processing.
(4) When a fair hearing is requested concerning
the involuntary discharge of a resident of a tier II facility after such resident requests
and participates in a hearing, held by the facility or the social services district in
which the facility is located, such fair hearing must be scheduled within seven working
days of the request. The decision after the fair hearing must be issued within seven
working days of the date of the fair hearing.
(c) When a hearing is requested pursuant to subdivision 358-3.1(g) of
this Part, or has been given priority in accordance with section 358-3.2(d) of this Part,
the hearing will be held within 30 days of the request, unless delayed by, or adjourned at
the request of, the appellant.