(1) A municipal police department whose authority has been withdrawn by the Director of the Division of Arkansas State Police to patrol controlled-access facilities may appeal the decision.
(2) A written or electronic notice of appeal shall be filed in the director’s office within ten (10) days of receipt of notification that the authority has been withdrawn.
(b)
(1) Once an appeal has been filed with the director’s office, the director may personally hear the appeal or may designate a hearing officer to hear the appeal and make recommendations to the director for a final order.
(2) The appeal hearing shall be held in accordance with the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, Arkansas Code § 25-15-201 et seq.
(c)
(1) Filing the notice of appeal does not automatically stay the withdrawal of authority for the municipal police department to patrol the controlled-access facilities.
(2) If a stay of authorization is not granted, the hearing on the appeal should be held within forty-five (45) days of the filing of the notice of appeal unless for good cause a party requests a continuance.
(3) A final order should be entered within a reasonable time after the conclusion of the hearing and/or the submission of other pleadings submitted post-hearing.