South Carolina § 63-13-850 - Appeals.

§ 63-13-850. Appeals.

(A) A registrant whose statement of registration has been withdrawn by the department or whose application for a statement or renewal of registration has been denied by the department must be given written notice of the withdrawal or denial by certified or registered mail. The notice must contain the reasons for the proposed action and must inform the registrant of the right to appeal the decision to the director or his designee in writing within thirty calendar days after the receipt of the notice. Upon receiving a written appeal, the director or his designee shall give the registrant reasonable notice and an opportunity for a prompt hearing before the director or his designee. On the basis of the evidence adduced at the hearing, the director or his designee shall make the final decision of the department as to whether the department shall withdraw the statement of registration or deny the application for a statement or renewal of registration, as applicable. If no written appeal is made, the department shall withdraw a statement of registration or deny the application for a statement or renewal of registration as of the termination of the thirty-day period.

(B) At the hearing provided for in this section, the registrant may be represented by counsel, and has the right to call, examine, and cross-examine witnesses, and to otherwise introduce evidence. Parents appearing at the hearing may also be represented by counsel. The director is empowered to require the presence of witnesses and evidence by subpoena on behalf of the appellant or department. The final decision of the department must be in writing, must contain the department's findings of fact and rulings of law and must be mailed to the parties to the proceedings by certified or registered mail. A full and complete record must be kept of all proceedings, and all testimony must be reported and need not be transcribed unless the decision is appealed, or a transcript is requested by an interested party. Upon an appeal, the department shall furnish to any appellate, free of charge, a certified copy of the transcript of all evidentiary proceedings before it. Other parties shall pay the cost of transcripts.

(C) The decision of the department is final unless appealed by a party pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.

HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, SECTION 2; 2016 Act No. 263 (H.4262), SECTION 4, eff June 9, 2016.

Effect of Amendment

2016 Act No. 263, SECTION 4, amended (A), including appeals of decisions to deny an application for a statement or renewal of registration.