| (a) The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) shall prepare a proposed decision that includes a statement of the reasons for the proposed decision. (b) The ALJ shall serve the proposed decision on the deputy comptroller, the petitioner, and the division manager by facsimile machine, if available, by electronic mail, or by using an overnight mail delivery service. (c) A party adversely affected by the proposed decision may, within ten days after the date the proposed decision is sent by facsimile machine, electronic mail, or delivered to an overnight delivery service, file exceptions by delivering the original documents to the ALJ. (d) Replies to exceptions shall be filed in the same manner within 20 days after the proposal for decision is sent by facsimile machine, electronic mail, or delivered to an overnight delivery service. (e) A copy of each exception and reply shall be served promptly on all other parties to the protest. Certification of service indicating that the exceptions were served on all other parties to the protest shall be furnished to the ALJ. On the motion of a party or on the motion of the ALJ, the ALJ may withhold consideration of a party's written exceptions if the party fails to: (1) provide the copies required by this subsection to all other parties to the protest; or (2) provide the ALJ with the certification of service required by this subsection. (f) The ALJ may, on the ALJ's own motion or for good cause shown, extend or shorten the time in which to file exceptions or replies. (g) The parties shall direct motions for extension of time in which to file exceptions or replies, or both, to the ALJ. A party's motion for extension of time shall be filed no later than five days before the applicable deadline for submission of exceptions or replies and shall demonstrate either: (1) good cause for the requested extension; or (2) agreement of all other parties to the extension. (h) The ALJ shall review all exceptions and replies and notify the referring agency, within 15 days of the deadline for filing a reply to the exceptions, whether the ALJ recommends changes to the proposed decision. |
