WAC 296-46B-995   Electrical board -- Appeal rights and hearings.  General.

     (1) Chapter 19.28 RCW provides the authority for the duties and responsibilities of the electrical board. Except as provided in chapter 19.28 RCW and this chapter, all proceedings will be conducted according to chapter 34.05 RCW the Administrative Procedure Act and chapter 10-08 WAC, Model rules of procedure. See chapter 34.05 RCW the Administrative Procedure Act for specific definitions not described in this chapter.

     (2) See RCW 19.28.311 for the composition of the electrical board.

     (3) The board adopts the current edition of the "Roberts' Rules of Order, Newly Revised."

     (4) The board will hold regular meetings on the last Thursday of January, April, July, and October of each year per RCW 19.28.311.

     (5) The director or the chairperson of the board may call a special meeting at any time.

     (6) Each board member must be notified in writing of the agenda, date, time, and place of each regular and special meeting. "Writing" includes by electronic mail, also known as "e-mail," if the member has provided an e-mail address for such notice.

     (7) The board or department may elect to have an appeal heard by the office of administrative hearings either tape recorded or transcribed by a court reporter; and the board may so elect regarding hearings or board reviews heard by the board as a whole.

     (8) A majority of the board constitutes a quorum for purposes of rendering any decision.

     (a) If a majority does not attend a hearing or board review on an appeal, the board may either continue the hearing or board review to a date certain or may hear the testimony and arguments.

     (b) If the board hears the testimony and arguments, the members of the board who are absent may make their decisions after hearing the tape recording or reading the transcript, of the hearing or board review.

     (c) If the board selects the method in subsection (8)(b) of this section, at the time of the hearing, the board shall set a date certain for the absent members to complete review of the record and for the board as a whole to vote on the decision. The vote in subsection (8)(b) and (c) of this section may occur by U.S. mail, facsimile or by electronic mail and shall be determined by the board at the hearing; the members' votes shall be public record.

     (9) All filings and documents for any matter before the board must be submitted to the chief electrical inspector, as secretary to the board, 7273 Linderson Way, P.O. Box 44460, Olympia, WA 98504-4460. Twenty copies of filings and documents must be submitted by ordinary mail, certified or registered mail, or by personal delivery. Filings and documents must be received no later than forty-five days prior to the scheduled meeting. When filings or documents are received after the deadlines, the filings and documents will be presented to the board at the second regularly scheduled board meeting.

     (10) All hearings before the board as a whole shall be held on regularly scheduled meeting dates, as listed in subsection (4) of this section, unless the board determines that an alternate date is necessary.

     (11) All notices of appeal, with a certified check payable to the department in the sum of two hundred dollars if required, must be received in the office of the chief electrical inspector, as secretary to the board, at least forty-five days before the regularly scheduled board meeting at which the hearing would occur. A separate two hundred dollar fee is required for each entity's appeal of a specific violation type (e.g., for a single entity, the designated administrator, multiple alleged violations of RCW 19.28.061 (5)(a) - designated administrator not available, RCW 19.28.061 (5)(d) - designated administrator fails to ensure proper permit is purchased, and RCW 19.28.061 (5)(e) - designated administrator fails to ensure corrections are made would require a six hundred dollar appeal fee). The total appeal fee for each entity seeking an appeal hearing is one thousand dollars maximum for all violation types. For original appeals to the board, the appellant must submit twenty copies of any written argument, briefs testimony or documents for the board's consideration at least forty-five days prior to the scheduled hearing. When appeals, written argument, briefs, testimony, or documents are received after the deadlines, the appeals, written argument, briefs, testimony, or documents will be presented to the board at the second regularly scheduled board meeting.


Appeals


     (12) Appeals of penalties issued by the department.

     (a) A party may appeal a penalty issued by the department, pursuant to chapter 19.28 RCW and this chapter, to the board. The appeal shall be assigned to the office of administrative hearings.

     (b) The appeal must be filed within twenty days after the notice of the decision or penalty is given to the assessed party either by personal service or by certified mail, return receipt requested, sent to the last known address of the assessed party and shall be made by filing a written notice of appeal with the chief electrical inspector, as secretary to the board. The request for an appeal must be accompanied with a certified check payable to the department in the sum of two hundred dollars.

     (13) Appeals of proposed decisions issued by the office of administrative hearings.

     (a) A party may appeal a proposed decision issued by the office of administrative hearings pursuant to chapter 19.28 RCW to the board. The appeal must be filed within twenty days after service of the decision and must be made by filing a written notice of appeal with the chief electrical inspector, as secretary to the board.

     (b) The notice of appeal of a proposed decision must be received in the office of the chief electrical inspector, as secretary to the board, at least forty-five days before a regularly scheduled board meeting. If you want the board to consider written argument, briefs testimony or other documents, it must be submitted at least forty-five days prior to the scheduled hearing.

     (14) Appeals of suspension, revocation, or nonrenewal.

     (a) An appeal of the suspension or revocation of a license or certificate of competency under RCW 19.28.241 and 19.28.341 or of nonrenewal of a license or certificate of competency under this chapter will be heard by the board in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW and not assigned to the office of administrative hearings. The board will conduct the hearing and may elect to have the assistance of an administrative law judge in the proceeding.

     (b) The notice of appeal, with the certified check payable to the department in the sum of two hundred dollars for appeals of a revocation or suspension of a contractor's or administrator's license, must be filed within twenty days after the notice of suspension or revocation is served on the subject of said action, either by personal service or by certified mail, return receipt requested, sent to the last known address of the subject and shall be filed by written notice of appeal with the chief electrical inspector, as secretary to the board.

     (15) Appeals of decisions on installation.

     (a) A party may seek board review for disputes relating to the interpretation and application of electrical/telecommunications installation or maintenance standards under RCW 19.28.111, 19.28.480, and 19.28.531. The board will conduct the hearing and may elect to have the assistance of an administrative law judge in the proceeding.

     (b) The notice of appeal, with the certified check payable to the department in the sum of two hundred dollars, must be received in the office of the chief electrical inspector, as secretary to the board, at least thirty days before a regularly scheduled board meeting. All parties must submit any written argument, briefs testimony or documents for the board's consideration at least twenty days prior to the scheduled hearing.

     (16) Appeals of a continuing education class or instructor for denials or revocations.

     A party may appeal a decision issued by the department, pursuant to WAC 296-46B-970 (3)(e)(vi), if the department acts as the contractor pursuant to WAC 296-46B-970 (2)(i) to the superior court per RCW 34.05.542(3).

     (17) Appeals pertaining to engineer approval or electrical testing laboratory recognition and accreditation.

     (a) A party may appeal a decision issued by the department pursuant to WAC 296-46B-997 or 296-46B-999. The appeal will be heard by the board in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW and not assigned to the office of administrative hearings. The board will conduct the hearing and may elect to have the assistance of an administrative law judge in the proceeding.

     (b) The notice of appeal, with the certified check payable to the department in the sum of two hundred dollars for appeals pertaining to engineer approval or recognition and accreditation of an electrical testing laboratory, must be filed within twenty days after the notice of the department's decision is served on the subject of said action, either by personal service or by certified mail, return receipt requested, sent to the last known address of the subject and shall be filed by written notice of appeal with the chief electrical inspector, as secretary to the board.

     (18) Judicial review of final decisions of the board.

     A party may seek judicial review of a final order of the board within thirty days after service of the decision. Appeals of final decisions and orders must be done in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW.

     (19) If appeal(s) according to subsections (12), (13), (15), and (16) of this section are not filed or the appeal is not filed timely, the proposed decision or action becomes final with no further action on the part of the department or the board.

     (20) Appeals - general requirements.

     (a) Appeals according to subsections (12), (15), or (16) of this section must specify the contentions of the appellant, and must for subsection (13) of this section specify to which conclusions of law and findings of fact the party takes exception. The appeal will be based on the record of the hearing. The board shall not grant a hearing due novo.

     (b) In appeals under subsections (13), (14), (15), and (16) of this section, the issues to be adjudicated must be made as precise as possible, in order that the board may proceed promptly to conduct the hearing on relevant and material matter only.

     (c) In all appeals of chapter 19.28 RCW and this chapter heard before the office of administrative hearings or directly by the board, the department has the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence.

     (d) In all appeals of a decision by the office of administrative hearings to the board, the party aggrieved by the decision of the office of administrative hearings has the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence.


Appearance and practice before board.


     (21) No party may appear as a representative in proceedings other than the following:

     (a) Attorneys at law qualified to practice before the supreme court of the state of Washington;

     (b) Attorneys at law qualified to practice before the highest court of record of another state, if the attorneys at law of the state of Washington are permitted to appear as representatives before administrative agencies of the other state, and if not otherwise prohibited by Washington law; or

     (c) An owner, officer, partner, or full-time employee of a firm, association, organization, partnership, corporation, or other entity who appears for the firm, association, organization, partnership, corporation or other entity.

     (22) All persons appearing in proceedings as a representative must conform to the standards of ethical conduct required of attorneys before the courts of Washington. If a person does not conform to these standards, the board may decline to permit the person to appear as a representative in any proceeding before the board.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.281, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551. 09-20-032, § 296-46B-995, filed 9/29/09, effective 10/31/09; 08-24-048, § 296-46B-995, filed 11/25/08, effective 12/31/08; 08-08-084, § 296-46B-995, filed 4/1/08, effective 4/1/08; 06-24-041, § 296-46B-995, filed 11/30/06, effective 12/31/06; 06-05-028, § 296-46B-995, filed 2/7/06, effective 5/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. 04-12-049, § 296-46B-995, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, § 296-46B-995, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]