§41-22-17. Filing of application for rehearing in contested cases; form and content; effect of application on final order; grounds for rehearing; service of application on parties of record; agency decision on application.

(a) Any party to a contested case who deems himself aggrieved by a final order and who desires to have the same modified or set aside may, within 15 days after entry of said order, file an application for rehearing, which shall specify in detail the grounds for the relief sought therein and authorities in support thereof.

(b) The filing of such an application for rehearing shall not extend, modify, suspend or delay the effective date of the order, and said order shall take effect on the date fixed by the agency and shall continue in effect unless and until said application shall be granted or until said order shall be superseded, modified, or set aside in a manner provided by law.

(c) Such application for rehearing will lie only if the final order is:

(1) In violation of constitutional or statutory provisions;

(2) In excess of the statutory authority of the agency;

(3) In violation of an agency rule;

(4) Made upon unlawful procedure;

(5) Affected by other error of law;

(6) Clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the whole record; or

(7) Unreasonable, arbitrary or capricious or characterized by an abuse of discretion or a clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion.

(d) Copies of such application for rehearing shall be served on all parties of record, who may file replies thereto.

(e) Within 30 days from the filing of an application the agency may in its discretion enter an order:

(1) Setting a hearing on the application for a rehearing which shall be heard as soon as practicable; or

(2) With reference to the application without a hearing; or

(3) Granting or denying the application.

If the agency enters no order whatsoever regarding the application within the 30-day period, the application shall be deemed to have been denied as of the expiration of the 30-day period.

(Acts 1981, No. 81-855, p. 1534, §17.)