§ 10-4-121 — Procedure for adopting or changing rules and regulations; administrative review of objections

(a) Prior to adoption or change of any rules and regulations, the Commissioner of Agriculture shall promulgate the proposed rule or regulation or change and afford interested persons an opportunity to be heard and submit data and views orally or in writing. (b) Any person with a real and substantial interest who is affected by a rule or regulation of the Commissioner and who believes that the Commissioner, in the promulgation or enforcement of such rule or regulation, has exceeded the authority vested in him by the General Assembly under the Constitution of Georgia or the United States shall have the right to petition the Commissioner for the repeal or rejection of such rule or regulation by pointing out in what respect and for what reasons he contends the rule to be unlawful or unconstitutional. The Commissioner is required to consider every such petition and afford the petitioner an opportunity to be heard within 30 days; and, after argument, the Commissioner shall determine the merits of the petition. If the Commissioner decides in whole or in part in favor of the petitioner, the Commissioner shall take corrective measures within 30 days after the hearing to give the petitioner relief in every respect from any unlawful or unconstitutional rule or regulation. The foregoing is expressly made an administrative remedy; and every person affected by any rule or regulation or any act of the Commissioner is required to exhaust this remedy before taking any other steps, except as otherwise provided in Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act." (c) All hearings before the Commissioner shall be stenographically reported and shall be available to any interested party upon payment of the stenographic cost.