Within 180 days after the filing of an application provided for in subdivision (2) of Section 109300 or an additional period as may be agreed upon by the board and the applicant, the board shall either:

(a)  Approve the application if it finds that none of the grounds for denying approval specified in Section 109315 applies.

(b)  Give the applicant notice for an opportunity for a hearing before the board on the question whether the application is approvable. If the applicant elects to accept the opportunity for hearing by written request within 30 days after the notice, the hearing shall commence not more than 90 days after the expiration of the 30 days unless the board and the applicant otherwise agree. Any hearing shall thereafter be conducted on an expedited basis and the board order thereon shall be issued within 90 days after the date fixed by the board for filing final briefs.

Prior to approving the application or giving the applicant notice for an opportunity for a hearing, the board shall have received a written report from the Cancer Advisory Council setting forth its recommendations on the action the board should take. The report shall be signed by a majority of the members of the council.

(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1996.)