(a) Initial decision by an administrative law judge. The administrative law judge shall make an initial decision and a copy of such initial decision shall be sent by registered mail, return receipt requested, to the recipient or applicant.

(b) Review of the initial decision. The applicant or recipient may file his exceptions to the initial decision, with his reasons therefor, with the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals, within thirty days of receipt of the initial decision. In the absence of exceptions, the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals, on his own motion within forty-five days after the initial decision, may notify the applicant or recipient that he will review the decision. In the absence of exceptions or a notice of review, the initial decision shall constitute the final decision subject to the approval of the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (f) of this section.

(c) Decisions by the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals. Whenever the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals, reviews the decision of a hearing examiner pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, the applicant or recipient shall be given reasonable opportunity to file with him briefs or other written statements of its contention, and a copy of the final decision of the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals, shall be given to the applicant or recipient and to the complainant, if any.

(d) Decisions on record where a hearing is waived. Whenever a hearing is waived pursuant to §17.8(a), a decision shall be made by the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals on the record and a copy of such decision shall be given in writing to the applicant or recipient and to the complainant, if any.

(e) Rulings required. Each decision of an administrative law judge or the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals, shall set forth his ruling on each finding, conclusion, or exception presented, and shall identify the requirement or requirements imposed by or pursuant to this part with which it is found that the applicant or recipient has failed to comply.

(f) Approval by Secretary. Any final decision of a hearing examiner or of the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals, which provides for the suspension or termination of, or the refusal to grant or continue Federal financial assistance, or the imposition of any other sanction available under this part of the act, shall promptly be transmitted to the Secretary, who may approve such decision, may vacate it, or remit or mitigate any sanction imposed.

(g) Content of decisions. The final decision may provide for the suspension or termination of, or refusal to grant or continue Federal financial assistance, in whole or in part, to which this regulation applies, and may contain such terms, conditions, and other provisions as are consistent with and effectuate the purposes of the act and this part, including provisions designed to assure that no Federal financial assistance to which this regulation applies will thereafter be extended to the applicant or recipient determined by such decision to be in default in its performance of an assurance given by it pursuant to this regulation, or to have otherwise failed to comply with this part, unless and until it corrects its noncompliance and satisfies the Secretary that it will fully comply with this part.

(h) Post termination proceedings.

(1) An applicant or recipient adversely affected by an order issued under paragraph (g) of this section shall be restored to full eligibility to receive Federal financial assistance if it satisfies the terms and conditions of that order for such eligibility or if it brings itself into compliance with this part and provides reasonable assurance that it will fully comply with this part.

(2) Any applicant or recipient adversely affected by an order entered pursuant to paragraph (g) of this section may at any time request the Secretary to restore fully its eligibility to receive Federal financial assistance.

(3) If the Secretary denies any such request, the applicant or recipient may submit to the Secretary a request for a hearing in writing, specifying why it believes the Secretary to have been in error. It shall thereupon be given an expeditious hearing, with a decision on the record in accordance with the procedures set forth in subpart I of part 4 of this title. The applicant or recipient shall be restored to such eligibility if it proves at such a hearing that it satisfied the requirements of paragraph (h)(1) of this section.

(4) While proceedings under this paragraph are pending, the sanctions imposed by the order issued under paragraph (g) of this section shall remain in effect.

[38 FR 17977, July 5, 1973; 44 FR 54299, Sept. 19, 1979]