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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68665</law_id><section_number>63.2-1304</section_number><catch_line>Appeal to Commissioner regarding adoption assistance</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="63.2">Welfare (Social Services)</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Social Services Programs</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="13">Adoption Assistance for Children with Special Needs</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Any applicant for or recipient of adoption assistance aggrieved by any decision of a <span class="dictionary">local board</span> or licensed <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> in granting, denying, changing or discontinuing adoption assistance, may, within 30 days after receiving written notice of such decision, <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> therefrom to the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>. Any applicant or recipient aggrieved by the failure of the <span class="dictionary">local board</span> or licensed <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> to make a decision within a reasonable time may ask for review by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may delegate the duty and authority to duly qualified <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> officers to consider and make determinations on any <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> or review. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall provide an opportunity for a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>, reasonable notice of which shall be given in writing to the applicant or recipient and to the proper <span class="dictionary">local board</span> in such manner and form as the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may prescribe. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may make or cause to be made an investigation of the <span class="dictionary">facts</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall give fair and impartial consideration to the <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> of witnesses, or other <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> produced at the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>, reports of investigation of the <span class="dictionary">local board</span> and <span class="dictionary">local director</span> or licensed <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> or of investigations made or caused to be made by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>, or any <span class="dictionary">facts</span> that the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may deem proper to enable him to decide fairly the <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> or review. The decision of the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall be binding and considered a final agency action for purposes of judicial review of such action pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.).</p></section></text><history>2003, c. 467.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
