(a) When a contested case has been instituted, the respondent
or the representative of the respondent shall enter an appearance not later
than 20 days after the date of receipt of notice as provided in §12A
of the Act.
(b) For the purposes of this section, a contested case shall
mean any action that is referred by the board to the State Office of Administrative
Hearings.
(c) For purposes of this section, an entry of appearance shall
mean the filing of a written answer or other responsive pleading with the
State Office of Administrative Hearings.
(d) The filing of an untimely appearance by a party, or entering
an appearance at the contested case hearing entitles the board to a continuance
of the hearing in the contested case at the board's discretion for such a
reasonable period of time as determined by the administrative law judge, but
not for a period of less than 20 days. For purposes of this section, an untimely
appearance is an appearance not entered within 20 days of the date the respondent
has received notice.
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