§ 20-2-53 — Registration of Persons Manufacturing, Distributing or Dispensing Controlled Substances - Order to Show Cause; Proceedings; Review; Issuance of Stay

(a) Before denying, suspending, or revoking a registration or refusing a renewal of registration, the certifying boards shall serve upon the applicant or registrant an order to show cause why registration should not be denied, revoked, or suspended or why the renewal should not be refused. The order to show cause shall contain a statement of the basis therefor and shall call upon the applicant or registrant to appear before the certifying board at a time and place not less than 30 days after the date of service of the order, but in the case of a denial of renewal of registration the show cause order shall be served not later than 30 days before the expiration of the registration. These proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act and the procedures established by the respective certifying board without regard to any criminal prosecution or other proceeding. Proceedings to refuse renewal of registration shall not abate the existing registration which shall remain in effect pending the outcome of the administrative hearing.
(b) Anyone adversely affected by any order of a certifying board denying, suspending, or revoking a registration or refusing the renewal of a registration, whether or not such suspension, revocation, or registration is limited, may obtain judicial review thereof by filing a written petition for review with the Circuit Court of Montgomery County in accordance with Section 41-22-20.
(c) The following procedures shall take precedence over subsection (c) of Section 41-22-20 relating to the issuance of a stay of any order of the certifying board suspending, revoking, or restricting a registration. The suspension, revocation, or restriction of a registration shall be given immediate effect, and no stay or supersedeas shall be granted pending judicial review of a decision by the certifying board to suspend, revoke, or restrict a registration unless a reviewing court, upon proof by the party seeking judicial review, finds in writing that the action of the certifying board was taken without statutory authority, was arbitrary or capricious, or constituted a gross abuse of discretion. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any action commenced for the purpose of seeking judicial review of the administrative decisions of a certifying board, including writ of mandamus, or judicial review pursuant to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act, must be filed, commenced, and maintained in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama.
(d) From the judgment of the circuit court, either the certifying board or the affected party who invoked the review may obtain a review of any final judgement of the circuit court under Section 41-22-21. No security shall be required of the certifying board.

Legislative History

(Acts 1971, No. 1407, p. 2378, §305; Acts 1982, No. 82-492, p. 815, §2; Act 2002-140, p. 359, §3.)