The procedures and rules contained herein prescribe the administrative process which will be applied with respect to a determination to deny (including refusal to renew) or revoke a certificate and to a determination to assess civil money penalties. Special rules and procedures for the emergency revocation of certificates are prescribed in § 530.412 of this subpart.

Whenever the Administrator determines to deny or revoke a certificate or determines to assess a civil money penalty, the person affected by such determination shall be notified of the determination in writing, by certified mail to the last known address. The notice required shall:

(a) Set forth the determination of the Administrator, including the specific statutory or regulatory provision or assurance violated, the reasons for denying or revoking a certificate, or the amount of any civil money penalty assessment and the reason or reasons therefor.

(b) Set forth the right to request a hearing on such determination.

(c) Set forth the time and method for requesting a hearing, and the procedures relating thereto, as set forth in § 530.403 of this subpart.

(d) Inform any affected person or persons that in lieu of formal proceedings there is available an alternative summary proceeding under § 530.412 of this subpart.

(e) Inform any affected persons that in the absence of a timely request for a hearing the determination of the Administrator shall become final and unappealable.

(a) Except in the case of an emergency revocation under § 530.411 of this subpart, a request for an administrative hearing on a determination referred to in § 530.402 of this subpart shall be made in writing to the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210, and must be received no later than thirty (30) days after issuance of the notice referred to in § 530.402 of this subpart.

(b) No particular form is prescribed for any request for a hearing permitted by this part. However, any such request shall be typewritten or legibly written; specify the issue or issues stated in the notice of determination giving rise to such request; state the specific reason or reasons why the person requesting the hearing believes such determination is in error; be signed by the person making the request or by an authorized representative of such person; and include the address at which such person or authorized representative desires to receive further communications relating thereto.

(c) In the case of an emergency revocation, a request for an administrative hearing shall be filed with the Chief Administrative Law Judge in accordance with 29 CFR part 18, and must be received no later than 20 days after the issuance of the notice referred to in § 530.402 of this subpart.

Upon receipt of a timely request for a hearing, the request and a copy of the notice of administrative determination complained of, shall, by Order of Reference, be referred to the Chief Administrative Law Judge, for a determination in an administrative proceeding as provided herein. The notice of administrative determination and request for hearing shall, respectively, be given the effect of a complaint and answer thereto for purposes of the administrative proceedings, subject to any amendment that may be permitted under 29 CFR part 18.

Except as specifically provided in these regulations, the “Rules of Practice and Procedure for Administrative Hearings before the Office of Administrative Law Judges” established by the Secretary at 29 CFR part 18 shall apply to administrative proceedings described in this subpart.

(a) The Administrative Law Judge shall prepare, after completion of the hearing and closing of the record, a decision on the issues referred by the Administrator.

(b) The decision of the Administrative Law Judge shall include a statement of findings and conclusions, with reasons and basis therefor, upon each material issue presented on the record. If the Administrative Law Judge finds that the Administrator has established by a preponderance of the evidence the factual basis for the determination to deny or revoke a certificate or to assess a civil money penalty, that determination shall be affirmed. The decision shall also include an appropriate order which may affirm, deny, reverse, or modify, in whole or in part, the determination of the Administrator. The reason or reasons for such order shall be stated in the decision.

(c) The decision shall be served on all parties and the Secretary. The decision when served by the Administrative Law Judge shall constitute the final order of the Department of Labor unless the Administrative Review Board, as provided for in § 530.407 of this subpart, determines to review the decision.

Any party desiring review of the decision of the Administrative Law Judge may petition the Administrative Review Board to review the decision. To be effective, such petition must be received by the Secretary within 30 days of the date of the decision of the Administrative Law Judge. Copies of the petition shall be served on all parties and on the Chief Administrative Law Judge. If the Administrative Review Board does not issue a notice accepting a petition for review within 30 days after receipt of a timely filing of the petition, or within 30 days of the date of the decision if no petition has been received, the decision of the Administrative Law Judge shall be deemed the final agency action.

Whenever the Administrative Review Board determines to review the decision and order of an Administrative Law Judge, the Secretary shall notify each party of the issue or issues raised; the form in which submission shall be made (i.e., briefs, oral argument, etc.); and, the time within which such presentation shall be submitted.

The Administrative Review Board's decision shall be served upon all parties and the Administrative Law Judge. The Administrative Review Board's decision is subject to discretionary review by the Secretary as provided in Secretary's Order 01-2020 (or any successor to that order).

In a revocation proceeding pursuant to § 530.205(d) of subpart C of this part arising as a result of a certificate holder's failure to pay back wages or civil money penalties judged owing, the Administrator may file a motion for expedited decision, attaching to the notice, by affidavit or other means, evidence that a final order has been entered or agreement signed requiring respondent to pay back wages or civil money penalties and that the back wages or civil money penalties have not been paid. The respondent in the proceeding shall have 20 days in which to file a countering affidavit or other evidence. If no evidence countering the material assertions of the Administrator has been submitted within 20 days, the Administrative Law Judge shall, within 30 days thereafter, affirm the revocation or denial of the certificate. If the respondent does timely file such evidence, the Administrative Law Judge shall schedule a hearing pursuant to § 530.411(c) of this subpart and the case shall be subject to the expeditious procedures following therein.

(a) When the Administrator determines that immediate revocation of a homework certificate is necessary to safeguard the payment of minimum wages to homeworkers, a notice of proposed emergency revocation of a certificate shall be sent to the certificate holder pursuant to § 530.402 of this subpart setting forth reasons requiring emergency revocation of the certificate.

(b) If no request for a hearing pursuant to § 530.403 of this subpart is received within 20 days of the date of receipt of the notice by the certificate holder, the proposed revocation of the certificate shall become final.

(c) The Office of Administrative Law Judges shall notify the parties, electronically or at their last known address, of the date, time, and place for the hearing, which shall be no more than 60 days from the date of receipt of the request for the hearing. All parties shall be given at least 5 days' notice of such hearing. No requests for postponement shall be granted except for compelling reasons.

(d) The Administrative Law Judge shall issue a decision pursuant to § 530.406 of this subpart within 30 days after the termination of a proceeding at which evidence was submitted. The decision shall be served on all parties and the Administrative Review Board (“Board”) and shall constitute the final order of the Department of Labor unless the Board determines to review the decision.

(e) Any party desiring review of the decision of the Administrative Law Judge may petition the Secretary to review the decision of the Administrative Law Judge. To be effective, such petition must be received by the Secretary within 30 days of the date of the decision of the Administrative Law Judge. If the Secretary does not issue a notice accepting a petition for review within 15 days after receipt of a timely filing of the petition, or within 30 days of the date of the decision if no petition is filed, the decision of the Administrative Law Judge shall be deemed the final agency action.

(f) The Board's decision shall be issued within 60 days of the notice by the Board accepting the submission, and shall be served upon all parties and the Administrative Law Judge. The Board's decision is subject to discretionary review by the Secretary as provided in Secretary's Order 01-2020 (or any successor to that order).

In lieu of an administrative hearing before an Administrative Law Judge under the above procedures, an applicant or certificate holder who does not dispute the factual findings of the Administrator may, within 30 days of the date of issuance of the notice of denial, revocation, or assessment (or within 20 days in the case of a notice of emergency revocation) petition the Administrator instead to reconsider the denial or revocation of the certificate or the assessment of civil money penalties. An applicant or certificate holder electing this informal procedure may appear before the Administrator in person, make a written submission to the Administrator, or both. Such reconsideration by the Administrator shall be available only upon waiver by the applicant or certificate holder of the formal hearing procedures provided by the above regulations.

Upon receipt of a complaint seeking review of a final decision issued pursuant to this part filed in a United States District Court, after the administrative remedies have been exhausted, the Chief Administrative Law Judge shall promptly index, certify and file with the appropriate United States District Court, a full, true, and correct copy of the entire record, including the transcript of proceedings.

Proceedings under this part are not subject to the provisions of the Equal Access to Justice Act. In any hearing conducted pursuant to these regulations, Administrative Law Judges shall have no power or authority to award attorney fees or other litigation expenses pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act.