HB 629 Summary

• Creates a new Office of Administrative Hearings within the department of self-governing agencies to conduct contested case proceedings for most state agencies, effective January 1, 2023 (January 1, 2024 for Department of Health and Welfare).

• Establishes the position of Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate, who must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen, and have 5+ years of law license or judicial office experience.

• Removes the right to one disqualification without cause for presiding officers when decisions must be rendered within 14 weeks or when the presiding officer is the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer or their appointee.

• Requires the Department of Health and Welfare to submit to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services all necessary approvals for contested case hearings to be conducted by the Office of Administrative Hearings, with the governor authorized to extend the implementation date pending CMS approval.

• Makes technical corrections to the Idaho Administrative Procedure Act definitions and rulemaking provisions, and updates a code reference in Section 58-122 regarding the Department of Lands.