Chapter 295-3 GENERAL INFORMATION

Rule 295-3-.01 Scope and Application of These Rules

The following Rules govern procedure in "contested cases" as that term is defined in the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act (O.C.G.A. 50-13-2(2)) and which are conducted before the several Professional Licensing Boards.

Rule 295-3-.02 Docket

(1)	The Joint Secretary shall keep a book known as a docket, which shall be arranged by a sequential numbering system for each case or other matter and shall show for each case of matter, as permitted by law, all proceedings, actions and filings.

(2)	The Joint Secretary shall keep a docket index by both docket number and alphabetical list of the names of the Respondents in all proceedings.

Rule 295-3-.03 Office Hours

The offices of the Joint Secretary shall be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each week-day except Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.

Rule 295-3-.04 Communications

All communications, including correspondence, motions, and pleadings, shall be filed with the Division Director, Professional Licensing Boards, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, Georgia 31217. Copies shall be furnished to all parties of record, including the attorney representing the State. An original and one duplicate of all correspondence, motions, and pleadings shall be filed with the Division Director and shall comply in all respects with Rule 295-6-.04.

Rule 295-3-.05 Date of Filing

All communications, correspondence, motions and pleadings in any proceedings shall be deemed to be filed or received on the date on which they are actually received by the Division Director.

Rule 295-3-.06 Computation of Time

Computation of any period of time referred to in these rules shall begin with the first day following that on which the act which initiates such period of time occurs. When the last day of the period so computed is a day on which the office of the Joint Secretary is closed, the period shall run until the end of the following business day. When such period of time, with the intervening Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays counted, is seven (7) days or less, the said Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays shall be excluded from the computation; or otherwise such days shall be included in the computation.

Rule 295-3-.07 Extension of Times

It shall be within the discretion of the presiding officer to extend, for good cause shown, any time limit prescribed or allowed by these rules. All requests for an extension should be made by a motion in accordance with Rule 295-5-.01 and shall indicate therein whether all parties concur. The presiding officer shall notify all parties of its action upon the motion. Extension shall be granted only when the presiding officer is satisfied that good cause has been shown and not otherwise.

Rule 295-3-.08 Signatures

Every notice, pleading, petition, motion or other document filed by a party, represented by an attorney other than the Agency, shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in his individual name and his address and telephone number shall be stated. A party who is not represented by an attorney shall sign his pleading and state his address and telephone number. Except when otherwise specifically provided by rule or statute, pleadings need not be verified or accompanied by affidavit. The signature of an attorney constitutes a certificate by him that he has read the pleading, and that it is not interposed for delay.

Rule 295-3-.09 Ex-parte Communication

No person not employed by the Agency or the Joint Secretary shall communicate exparte with the presiding officer, any member of the Agency or any employee of the Agency involved in the decisional process with respect to the merits of a contested case. If any ex-parte communication is directed to any person in violation of these rules, the presiding officer and all other parties shall be immediately informed of the substance of the communication and the circumstances of its receipt; provided, that a request for information with respect to the status of a proceeding shall not be prohibited by this section.

Rule 295-3-.10 Petition for Promulgation, Amendment, or Repeal of Rules

(1)

Form of Petition. Each petition for promulgation, amendment or repeal of rules made pursuant to the Georgia Administration Procedure Act shall be filed with the examining board which had enacted the rule, or would otherwise be charged with enforcing the rule. The petition shall be in writing and shall state:

(a)	The name and address of the petitioner;

(b)	The full text of the rule requested to be amended or repealed, or the full text of the rule desired to be promulgated;

(c)	A statement of the reason such rule should be amended, repealed, or promulgated including a statement of all pertinent existing facts which relate to petitioner's interest in the matter;

(d)	Citations of legal authority, if any, which authorize, support, or require the action requested by petition. The petition shall be verified under oath by or in proper behalf of; the petitioner.

(2)

Proceeding on Petition. Upon receipt of the petition, the examining board shall decide upon the action to be taken. Within thirty days after receipt of the petition, the board either shall deny the petition in writing (stating its reasons for the denial) or shall initiate rule-making or rule-changing proceedings in accordance with Section 4 of the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.

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