1. (a) An applicant wishing to appeal the Department of Agriculture's denial or partial denial of an application shall submit a written request for a hearing postmarked within fifteen (15) days of the date of the department’s notification letter or email.
2. (b) An appealing applicant shall mail a hearing request letter to: Industrial Hemp Research Program 1 Natural Resources Drive Little Rock, Arkansas 72205

3. (c)

   1. (1) Appeals shall be heard by a three-person administrative panel whose members shall be designated by the Director of the State Plant Board.

   2. (2) The panel shall include:

      1. (A) At least one (1) person who is a program employee; and
      2. (B) At least one (1) person who is not a program employee and not involved or invested in any hemp research projects in Arkansas.
4. (d) The members of the administrative panel shall not be required to accept or consider information or documents that were not compliant with application deadlines set forth in this part.
5. (e) Hearings on appeals shall be open to the public and occur at a time, date, and location designated by the director.

6. (f)

   1. (1) An appealing applicant shall appear in person at the assigned hearing time.
   2. (2) Failure to appear on time shall constitute grounds for dismissal of the appeal.
7. (g) An appealing applicant shall be allowed up to fifteen (15) minutes to present arguments for reversing the department’s denial of the application.
8. (h) A representative of the department shall be allowed up to fifteen (15) minutes to present arguments for affirming the department’s denial of the application.
9. (i) The three (3) members of the administrative panel shall rule on the appeal by a majority vote.

Codification Notes: The Arkansas Industrial Hemp Act, Arkansas Code § 2-15-401 et seq., was repealed by Acts 2021, No. 565, § 1.