Senate Bill 1883 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated to establish procedures for contested cases related to appeals of citations, permits, and assessments. The bill mandates that if an operator files an appeal, the proceedings must be conducted as a contested case before an administrative judge. Key provisions include the requirement for a scheduling conference within 30 days of the appeal filing, a hearing to be completed within 180 days, and an initial order to be issued within 90 days of the hearing's record completion. The bill also stipulates that the administrative judge's initial order is final unless appealed within 15 days, and the board's review of such orders will be de novo, without a presumption of correctness.

Additionally, the bill modifies several sections to ensure consistency in the handling of contested cases across different types of permits and assessments. It emphasizes the importance of timely hearings and decisions, allowing for petitions to stay or reconsider final orders, and outlines the process for judicial review. The changes aim to streamline the administrative process and enhance the efficiency of hearings related to environmental and regulatory matters in Tennessee.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 60-1-401(h), 60-1-401, 68-201-108(a)(1), 68-201-108, 68-211-113(b), 68-211-113, 68-212-113(b), 68-212-113, 68-215-119(b), 68-215-119, 69-3-110(a), 69-3-110