Virginia Law

A. In conjunction with any proceeding for revocation, denial, or other action when conditions or practices exist that pose an immediate and substantial threat to the health, safety, and welfare of children, the Superintendent may issue a notice of summary suspension of the license to operate a child day program or family day system or of certain authority of the licensee to provide certain services or perform certain functions.

B. The hearing coordinator will select a hearing officer from a list prepared by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia and will schedule the time, date, and location of the hearing to determine whether the suspension is appropriate as required by § 22.1-289.022 C or 22.1-289.024 C of the Code of Virginia.

C. Simultaneously with the issuance of a notice of revocation, denial, or other action, the superintendent will issue to the licensee a notice of summary suspension setting forth the following:

1. The procedures for the summary suspension;

2. The hearing and appeal rights as set forth in this subsection;

3. Facts and evidence that formed the basis for which the summary order of suspension is sought; and

4. The time, date, and location of the hearing.

D. Notice of the summary suspension shall be served on the licensee or the licensee's designee by personal service or by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address of record of the licensee as soon as practicable after issuance thereof.

E. The hearing shall take place in the locality where the child day program or family day system operates unless the licensee or the licensee's designee expressly waives this venue provision.

1. The hearing shall be held no later than 15 business days after service of notice on the licensee. The hearing officer may grant a continuance upon written request and for good cause shown. In no event shall any continuance exceed 10 business days after the initial hearing date.

2. The hearing coordinator will forward a copy of the relevant licensing standards to the hearing officer.

3. The hearing will be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in 8VAC20-820-460, 8VAC20-820-470, and 8VAC20-820-480.

4. The department may be represented either by counsel or by agency staff authorized by § 2.2-509 of the Code of Virginia.

F. Within 10 days of the conclusion of the hearing, the hearing officer shall provide to the superintendent written findings and conclusions, together with a recommendation as to whether the license should be summarily suspended. The department shall have the burden of proof in any summary suspension hearing. The decision of the hearing officer shall be based on the preponderance of the evidence presented by the record and relevant to the basic law under which the agency is operating.

G. Within 10 business days of receipt of the hearing officer's findings, conclusions, and recommendation, the superintendent may issue a final order of summary suspension or an order that such summary suspension is not warranted by the facts and circumstances presented.

H. In issuing a final order of summary suspension, the superintendent may:

1. Suspend the license of the child day program or family day system; or

2. Suspend only certain authority of the child day program or family day system to provide certain services or perform certain functions that the Superintendent determines should be restricted or modified in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the children receiving care.

I. The superintendent shall adopt the hearing officer's recommended decision unless to do so would be an error of law or department policy.

J. In the event the superintendent rejects a hearing officer's findings, conclusions, or recommended decision, the superintendent shall state with particularity the basis for rejection.

K. A copy of any final order of summary suspension shall be prominently displayed at each public entrance of the facility as required in 8VAC20-820-120.

L. The signed, original case decision shall remain in the custody of the agency as a public record, subject to the agency's records retention policy.