OAR 603-057-0510: Notice of Violation, Notice of Assessment of Civil Penalties, and Notice of Contested Case Rights and Procedures

(1) The Director may determine that a person committed a violation and decide to not impose a civil penalty. In such circumstances, the Director will issue a written Notice of Violation. The Notice of Violation shall inform a person of the existence of a violation and the consequences of non-compliance. (2) The Director may determine that a person committed a violation and decide to impose a civil penalty. In such circumstances, the Director will issue a written Notice of Imposition of Civil Penalty. The Notice of Imposition of Civil Penalty will inform the person of the existence of a violation, state the amount of the penalty imposed for the violation, and summarize how the penalty was calculated. (3) Notices of Violation and Notices of Imposition of Civil Penalties shall be served by registered or certified mail. (4) Notices of Violation and Notices of Imposition of Civil Penalties shall include, but not be limited to: (a) A caption with the name of the Department and with the name of the person to whom the notice is issued; (b) A reference to the particular sections of the statutes and administrative rules involved; (c) A short and plain statement of the matters asserted or charged; (d) A statement of the person’s right to be represented by counsel and that legal aid organizations may be able to assist a person with limited financial resources; (e) A statement of the person's right to request a hearing; (f) A statement of the procedure to request a hearing, including but not limited to the following; (A) Any request for hearing must be in writing; (B) Any request for hearing must be received by the Department within ten (10) days of the date the Department mailed the notice; and (C) The address to which a request for hearing must be sent; (g) A statement that if a request for hearing is not received by the Department within the time stated in the notice the person will have waived the right to a contested case hearing; (h) A statement of the authority and jurisdiction under which a hearing will be held on the matters asserted or charged; (i) A statement that if the person requests a hearing a Notice of Contested Case Rights and Procedures will be provided before any hearing; (j) A statement indicating whether and under what circumstances an order by default may be entered, including but not limited to, that the notice becomes a final order unless the person makes a timely written request for a hearing; and (k) Other information required by law. (5) Notices of Violation and Notices of Imposition of Civil Penalties may also include additional information deemed appropriate by the Director, including but not limited to the following: (a) A statement that the record of the proceeding to date, including information in the Department’s file or files on the subject of the contested case and all materials submitted by a person, automatically become part of the contested case record upon default for the purpose of proving a prima facie case; and (b) A statement that a collaborative dispute resolution process is available if the person requests a hearing as stated in the notice. (6) If a person timely requests a hearing for either a Notice of Violation or a Notice of Imposition of Civil Penalty, the Department will mail a written Notice of Contested Case Rights and Procedures to the person before the commencement of the hearing, or request that an administrative law judge inform the person of the rights and procedures.