53-2-606. Right of appeal. (1) If an application for assistance for food stamps, FAIM financial assistance, as defined in 53-2-902, or medicaid is not acted upon promptly or if a decision is made with which the applicant or recipient is not satisfied, the applicant or recipient may appeal to the board of public assistance for a fair hearing by addressing a request for a hearing to the department of public health and human services. The board of public assistance shall, upon receipt of a request for a hearing, give the applicant or recipient prompt notice and opportunity for a fair hearing.
     (2) The department may upon its own motion review any decision of a county welfare board and may consider any application upon which a decision has not been made by the county board within a reasonable time from the filing of the decision. The department may have an additional investigation made and shall make a decision as to the granting of assistance and the amount of assistance to be granted the applicant as in its opinion is justified and in conformity with the provisions of this title.
     (3) If the department reviews a county decision on its own motion, applicants or recipients affected by the decisions of the department shall upon request be given reasonable notice and an opportunity for a fair hearing by the board of public assistance.
     (4) All decisions of the department or the board of public assistance are final and are binding and must be complied with by the county department.

     History: En. Sec. 12, Part 1, Ch. 82, L. 1937; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 199, L. 1951; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 24, L. 1953; amd. Sec. 24, Ch. 121, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 71-223; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 561, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 417, Ch. 546, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 486, L. 1997.