35-24-109. Limited hearing on application; issues identified prior to hearing; procedure; evidence; decision.

(a) If a contested case hearing is not required pursuant to W.S. 35-24-107(b) and in lieu of W.S. 35-24-108, the director may prior to rendering a decision on any application, order a limited hearing. A copy of the order shall be mailed to the applicant and to all persons who have submitted comments or requested to be kept informed of the proceedings involving the application. The order shall state the date, time and location of the limited hearing and shall identify specific issues to be addressed at the limited hearing, which may include the feasibility and desirability of one (1) or more alternatives to the proposed arrangement. The order shall require the applicant to submit written evidence in the form of affidavits and supporting documents, addressing the issues identified within twenty (20) days after the date of the order. The order shall also state that any person may arrange to receive a copy of the written evidence from the director, at the person's expense, and may provide written comments on the evidence within forty (40) days after the date of the order. Any person providing written comments pursuant to this subsection shall provide a copy of the comments to the applicant.

(b) The limited hearing shall be held before the director or a department staff member designated by the director. The director or his designee shall question the applicant concerning the evidence submitted by the applicant. The questions may address relevant issues identified in the comments submitted in response to the written evidence or identified by the department of health staff or discovered through publicly available department of health data. At the conclusion of the applicant's responses to the questions, any person who submitted comments about the applicant's written evidence may make a statement addressing the applicant's responses to the questions. The director or his designee may ask questions of any person making a statement. At the conclusion of all statements, the applicant may make a closing statement.

(c) The director's decision after a limited hearing shall to the extent each is relevant, be based upon the application, the comments, the applicant's response to the comments, the applicant's written evidence, the comments in response to the written evidence and the information presented at the limited hearing. In making the decision, the director may rely on publicly available department of health data.