§ 14.57 — Initiation; Decision; Agreement to Arbitrate
Plain-Language Summary
An agency must start a contested case hearing when required by law. The agency can decide to make the administrative law judge's report the final decision. As an alternative, the parties can agree to submit their dispute to arbitration by an administrative law judge instead of going through the full contested case process.
14.57 INITIATION; DECISION; AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE.
(a) An agency shall initiate a contested case proceeding when one is required by law. Unless otherwise provided by law, an agency shall decide a contested case only in accordance with the contested case procedures of the Administrative Procedure Act. Upon initiation of a contested case proceeding, an agency may, by order, provide that the report or order of the administrative law judge constitutes the final decision in the case.
(b) As an alternative to initiating or continuing with a contested case proceeding, the parties, subsequent to agency approval, may enter into a written agreement to submit the issues raised to arbitration by an administrative law judge according to sections 572B.01 to 572B.31.
History:
1957 c 806 s 8; 1976 c 68 s 3; 1980 c 615 s 14; 1982 c 424 s 130; 2002 c 251 s 1; 2013 c 125 art 1 s 6
**NOTE: **The Office of Administrative Hearings has been renamed the Court of Administrative Hearings. This terminology change will be implemented in the 2026 Statutes. Laws 2025, chapter 39, article 2, sections 17 and 68.
History: History: 1957 c 806 s 8; 1976 c 68 s 3; 1980 c 615 s 14; 1982 c 424 s 130; 2002 c 251 s 1; 2013 c 125 art 1 s 6