(a) Upon receipt of a completed application, the Commission office shall review the application and, if it is complete and there are no known grounds for denial of the license requested, issue the license. If there are known grounds for denial, the Commission office shall forward the application to the Application Review Committee (ARC).
(b) The ARC shall review the application and all other information available and following the review may: - (i) Approve the application if the applicant meets all requirements; or
- (ii) If there are questions as to whether denial is appropriate, forward the application and the ARC report to the Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Commission for prosecution for review.
(c) If, after review, and following consultation with the Assistant Attorney General, the ARC concludes that grounds exist to recommend denial of an application: - (i) A preliminary denial letter shall be sent to applicant. The letter shall:
- (A) State the basis for the denial including relevant statutes and rules; and
- (B) Advise the applicant of the right to request reconsideration.
- (ii) If the applicant fails to request reconsideration in writing within thirty (30) days of the date of the preliminary denial letter, the preliminary denial becomes final.
- (iii) If the applicant requests reconsideration within thirty (30) days, a reconsideration conference shall be held with the ARC, the Assistant Attorney General, and the applicant.
- (iv) Following a reconsideration conference, the ARC shall either approve or deny the application and notify the applicant.
- (v) If denied, the applicant shall submit a written request for a hearing before the Commission within thirty (30) days of the date of the denial letter or the denial is final.
(d) Application denial hearings - (i) An application denial hearing is a formal contested case hearing conducted pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act.
- (ii) The applicant has the burden of proving that he/she meets all requirements for the license requested.
(e) The ARC may attend hearings, but shall not take part in the consideration of any contested case.