Section 246-310-180. Public hearings.

(1) "Opportunity for a public hearing," as used in this section, shall mean a public hearing will be conducted if a valid request for such a hearing has been submitted by one or more interested persons.

(2) The department shall provide opportunity to interested persons for a public hearing on:

(a) A certificate of need application under review, unless the application is being reviewed according to the emergency or expedited review processes; and

(b) The proposed withdrawal of a certificate of need.

(3) To be valid, a request for a public hearing on a certificate of need application or on the proposed withdrawal of a certificate of need shall:

(a) Be submitted in writing;

(b) Be received by the department within fifteen days after the date on which the department's "notification of beginning of review" for the particular certificate of need application or proposed withdrawal of a certificate of need was published in a newspaper of general circulation; and

(c) Include identification of the particular certificate of need application or proposed certificate of need withdrawal for which the public hearing is requested and the full name, complete address, and signature of the person making the request.

(4) The department shall give written notice of a public hearing conducted pursuant to this section.

(a) Written notice shall be given to interested persons and the public at least fifteen days prior to the beginning of the public hearing.

(b) The notices shall include: Identification of the certificate of need application or certificate of need on which the public hearing is to be conducted and the date, time, and location of the public hearing.

(c) Notice to the general public to be served by the proposed project to which the certificate of need application or certificate of need pertains shall be through a newspaper of general circulation in the health service area of the proposed project. The notices to other interested persons shall be mailed on the same date the notice to the public is mailed to the newspaper for publication.

(5) In a public hearing on a certificate of need application or on a proposed withdrawal of a certificate of need, any person shall have the right to be represented by counsel and to present oral or written arguments and evidence relevant to the subject matter of the hearing. Any person affected by the matter may conduct reasonable questioning of persons who make relevant factual allegations.

(6) The department shall maintain a verbatim record of a public hearing and shall not impose fees for the hearing.

(7) The department shall not be required to conduct a public hearing on a certificate of need application being reviewed according to the emergency or expedited review procedures.

(8) The department may conduct a public hearing in the absence of a request as identified in subsection (3) of this section, if the department determines it is in the best interest of the public.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.38 RCW. WSR 98-10-053, § 246-310-180, filed 4/29/98, effective 5/30/98; WSR 96-24-052, § 246-310-180, filed 11/27/96, effective 12/28/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.38.135 and 70.38.919. WSR 92-02-018 (Order 224), § 246-310-180, filed 12/23/91, effective 1/23/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. WSR 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-310-180, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.38.135. WSR 86-06-030 (Order 2344), § 248-19-320, filed 2/28/86; WSR 81-09-012 (Order 210), § 248-19-320, filed 4/9/81, effective 5/20/81. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.38 RCW. WSR 79-12-079 (Order 188), § 248-19-320, filed 11/30/79.]

Chapter 70.38 RCW. WSR 98-10-053, § 246-310-180, filed 4/29/98, effective 5/30/98; WSR 96-24-052, § 246-310-180, filed 11/27/96, effective 12/28/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.38.135 and 70.38.919. WSR 92-02-018 (Order 224), § 246-310-180, filed 12/23/91, effective 1/23/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. WSR 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-310-180, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.38.135. WSR 86-06-030 (Order 2344), § 248-19-320, filed 2/28/86; WSR 81-09-012 (Order 210), § 248-19-320, filed 4/9/81, effective 5/20/81. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.38 RCW. WSR 79-12-079 (Order 188), § 248-19-320, filed 11/30/79.