Section 3709.20. Orders and regulations of board of city health district - hearing referees or examiners

(A) The board of health of a city health district may make such orders and regulations as are necessary for its own government, for the public health, the prevention or restriction of disease, and the prevention, abatement, or suppression of nuisances. Orders and regulations not for the government of the board, but intended for the general public, shall be adopted, advertised, recorded, and certified as are ordinances of municipal corporations and the record thereof shall be given in all courts the same effect as is given such ordinances. In cases of emergency caused by epidemics of contagious or infectious diseases, or conditions or events endangering the public health, the board may declare such orders and regulations to be emergency measures, and such orders and regulations shall become effective immediately without such advertising, recording, and certifying.

(B) In any hearing conducted by the board of health of a city health district, general health district, or combined health district, the board may appoint a referee or examiner to conduct the hearing. In a hearing conducted by a board of health of a city health district, a combined health district, or a general health district at least one member of the board shall be present.

The referee or examiner appointed to conduct the hearing shall have the same powers and authority in conducting the hearing as is granted to the board. The referee or examiner shall have been admitted to the practice of law in the state and be possessed of such additional qualifications as the board may require. The referee or examiner shall submit to the board a written report setting forth his findings of fact and conclusions of law and a recommendation of the action to be taken by the board. A copy of such written report and recommendation of the referee or examiner shall, within five days of the date of filing thereof, be served upon the party or his attorney or other representative of record, by certified mail. The party may, within ten days of receipt of the copy of the written report or recommendation, file with the board written objections to the report and recommendation, which objections shall be considered by the board before approving, modifying, or disapproving the recommendation. The board may grant extensions of time to the party within which to file such objections.

No recommendation of the referee or examiner shall be approved, modified, or disapproved by the board until ten days after the service of the report and recommendation as provided in this section. The board may order additional testimony to be taken or permit the introduction of further documentary evidence. No recommendation shall be final until approved by a quorum of the entire board as indicated by an order on its record of proceedings.

Effective Date: 08-06-1976