In the event the director orders that oral argument or a hearing be held upon a petition for reinstatement or reduction of penalty filed pursuant to § 11522 of the Government Code, he or she may hear and decide the matter himself or herself or may, in his or her discretion, either (1) sit and hear the matter with an administrative law judge assigned by the department or (2) assign the matter to an administrative law judge assigned by the department who shall proceed in accordance with § 100171 of the Health and Safety Code, and who shall prepare a proposed decision for the department for action pursuant to § 11517 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 220, Sec. 38. Effective August 4, 1997.)