PURPOSE: This rule establishes the procedures for due
process hearings for applicants or eligible individuals dissatisfied with a
determination made regarding the provision of services by the Office of Adult
Learning and Rehabilitation Services, Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, 29 USC section
701 et. seq. and the Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR section 361.57(e),
(f), and (g).
(1) An
applicant or eligible individual may request a due process hearing without
informal review or mediation.
(2)
An applicant or eligible individual may request a due process hearing in
writing or by personally contacting the vocational rehabilitation (VR) consumer
affairs office.
(3) The assistant
commissioner of the Office of Adult Learning and Rehabilitation Services or
his/her designee will schedule a hearing and assign an impartial hearing
officer to hear the matter.
(4) A
hearing will be held within sixty (60) days of the request unless the
applicant, the eligible individual, or VR requests a specified time
extension.
(5) A hearing will be
conducted as a contested case pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 536,
RSMo.
(6) The applicant or the
eligible individual, or if appropriate, the individual's guardian or other
representative of the applicant or the eligible individual will be allowed an
opportunity to present additional evidence, information, and witnesses during
the due process hearing.
(7) Copies
of all correspondence, reports of contact, and written decisions rendered by
the impartial hearing officer shall be placed in the applicant's or the
eligible individual's case file.
(8) The impartial hearing officer will make a
decision, including findings of fact and conclusions of law, based upon the
provisions of the approved state plan, the federal act and/or applicable
regulations, and appropriate state law and/or regulations. A written report
from the impartial hearing officer will be submitted to the applicant or
eligible client or, if appropriate, the individual's guardian or other
representative and to the assistant commissioner within thirty (30) days of
completion of the due process hearing.
(9) Within twenty (20) days of the mailing of
the impartial hearing officer's written decision, either party may request in
writing, a review of the written decision by the commissioner of the Department
of Elementary and Secondary Education (department), or his/her
designee.
(10) The commissioner or
designee shall provide an opportunity for submission of additional evidence and
information relevant to a final decision. The commissioner may not delegate the
responsibility for reviewing the written decision of the impartial hearing
officer to any VR staff.
(11) The
commissioner or designee shall not overturn or modify the impartial hearing
officer's decision, or part of the decision supporting the position of the
applicant or eligible individual, unless the reviewing official determines
based upon clear and convincing evidence that the decision of the impartial
hearing officer is clearly erroneous on the basis of being contrary to the
approved state plan, the federal act and/or applicable regulations, or the
appropriate state law and/or regulations.
(12) The commissioner or designee shall
provide a written final findings of fact and conclusions of law to the
applicant or eligible individual or, if appropriate, the applicant's
representative and VR within thirty (30) days of the request for administrative
review.
(13) A decision of the
commissioner or designee constitutes notice of a final decision on the matter
by the department.