(a) A person who receives notice of the department's intention to deny an application for a certificate of registration, to reprimand, suspend or revoke a certificate of registration, to prohibit the registrant from paying cash for a purchase of regulated material pursuant to §1956.036(e) of the Act, or to impose an administrative penalty under §36.60 of this title (relating to Administrative Penalties), may appeal the decision by submitting a request to appeal by mail, facsimile, or electronic mail, to the department in the manner provided on the department's metals recycling program website within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of notice of the department's proposed action. If a written request to appeal is not submitted within thirty (30) calendar days of the date notice was received, the right to an informal hearing or settlement conference, as applicable, under this section or §36.57 of this title (relating to Hearings Before the State Office of Administrative Hearings) is waived and action becomes final.
(b) If the action is based on the person's criminal history, an informal, telephonic hearing will be scheduled. Following the hearing, the department will either dismiss the proceedings and withdraw the proposed action, or issue a written statement of findings to the respondent either upholding or modifying the original proposed action.
(c) If the proposed action is based on an administrative violation, a settlement conference will be scheduled. The settlement conference may be conducted in person or by telephone, by agreement of the parties. Following the settlement conference, the parties will execute an agreed order, or, if no agreement is reached, the department will issue a written determination either upholding or modifying the originally proposed action.
(d) The department's findings resulting from the informal hearing, or its determination following a settlement conference, may be appealed as provided in §36.57 of this title. If a written request is not submitted within thirty (30) calendar days of the date notice was received, the findings or determination shall become final.
(e) Requests for continuance must be submitted in writing at least three (3) business days prior to the scheduled hearing or conference. Requests must be based on good cause. Multiple requests may be presumed to lack good cause and may be denied on that basis.

Source Note: The provisions of this §36.56 adopted to be effective January 10, 2016, 41 TexReg 498; amended to be effective November 2, 2017, 42 TexReg 6032; amended to be effective May 14, 2020, 45 TexReg 3143