(a) Any health facility or freestanding ambulatory surgery clinic affected by any determination made under this part by the department may petition the department for review of the decision. This petition shall be filed with the department within 15 business days, or within a greater time as the department may allow, and shall specifically describe the matters which are disputed by the petitioner.
(b) A hearing shall be commenced within 60 calendar days of the date on which the petition was filed. The hearing shall be held before an employee of the department, or an administrative law judge employed by the Office of Administrative Hearings. If held before an employee of the department, the hearing shall be held in accordance with any procedures as the office shall prescribe. If held before an administrative law judge employed by the Office of Administrative Hearings, the hearing shall be held in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The employee or administrative law judge shall prepare a recommended decision including findings of fact and conclusions of law and present it to the department for its adoption. The decision of the department shall be in writing and shall be final. The decision of the department shall be made within 60 calendar days after the conclusion of the hearing and shall be effective upon filing and service upon the petitioner.
(c) Judicial review of any final action, determination, or decision may be had by any party to the proceedings as provided in Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The decision of the department shall be upheld against a claim that its findings are not supported by the evidence unless the court determines that the findings are not supported by substantial evidence.
(d) The employee of the office, or the administrative law judge employed by the Office of Administrative Hearings or the Office of Administrative Hearings, may issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum in a manner and subject to the conditions established by Article 11 (commencing with Section 11450.10) of Chapter 4.5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(e) This section shall become operative on July 1, 1997.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 143, Sec. 214. (AB 133) Effective July 27, 2021.)