This subpart codifies and establishes the procedures and rules of practice necessary for the administrative enforcement of the Act.

(a) The procedures and rules contained herein prescribe the administrative process necessary for a determination:

(1) To suspend or revoke, or to refuse to issue or renew, a Certificate of Registration authorized under the Act and these regulations; and

(2) To impose an assessment of civil money penalties for violations of the Act or of these regulations.

(b) The procedures and rules contained herein also specify the administrative responsibility under section 102(5) of the Act with regard to a designation by a court of the Secretary as an agent of an applicant for a certificate of registration in any action against such applicant, if said applicant has left the jurisdiction in which the action is commenced or otherwise has become unavailable to accept service.

(a) Whenever the Secretary determines to suspend or revoke, or to refuse to issue or renew, a Certificate of Registration, the applicant for or the holder of such certificate shall be notified in writing of such determination.

(1) In cases involving a determination relating to a Certificate of Registration applied for by, or issued to, a farm labor contractor, written notice shall also be given to every applicant for or holder of a Certificate of Registration as an employee of such contractor.

(2) In cases involving a determination relating to a Farm Labor Contractor Employee Certificate of Registration, written notice shall also be given to the farm labor contractor of such applicant or certificate holder.

(b) Whenever the Secretary determines to assess a civil money penalty for a violation of the Act or these regulations, the person against whom such penalty is assessed shall be notified in writing of such determination.

The notice required by § 500.210 shall:

(a) Set forth the determination of the Secretary and the reason or reasons therefor.

(b) Set forth, in the case of a civil money penalty assessment:

(1) A description of each violation; and

(2) The amount assessed for each violation.

(c) Set forth the right to request a hearing on such determination.

(d) Inform any affected person or persons that in the absence of a timely request for a hearing, the determination of the Secretary shall become final and unappealable.

(e) Set forth the time and method for requesting a hearing, and the procedures relating thereto, as set forth in § 500.212.

(a) Any person desiring to request an administrative hearing on a determination referred to in § 500.210 shall make such request in writing to the official who issued the determination, at the Wage and Hour Division address appearing on the determination notice. Such request must be made no later than thirty (30) days after the date of issuance of the notice referred to in § 500.210.

(b) The request for such hearing shall be delivered in person or by mail to the Wage and Hour Division office at the address appearing on the determination notice upon which the request for a hearing is based, within the time set forth in paragraph (a) of this section. For the affected person's protection, if the request is by mail, it should be by certified mail.

(c) No particular form is prescribed for any request for hearing permitted by this part. However, any such request shall:

(1) Be typewritten or legibly written on size 8 1/2″ × 11″ paper;

(2) Specify the issue or issues stated in the notice of determination giving rise to such request;

(3) State the specific reason or reasons why the person requesting the hearing believes such determination is in error;

(4) Be signed by the person making the request or by an authorized representative of such person; and

(5) Include the address at which such person or authorized representative desires to receive further communications relating thereto.

(d) Civil money penalties under FLCRA shall be treated as follows:

(1) Determinations to assess civil money penalties for violations of FLCRA made prior to April 14, 1983 shall continue until a final administrative determination shall have been made in accordance with 29 CFR part 40.

(2) Determinations to assess civil money penalties for violations of FLCRA arising prior to April 14, 1983, made on or after April 14, 1983, shall continue until a final administrative determination shall have been made in accordance with these regulations.

(a) Pursuant to section 105(1) of the Act, every holder of a Certificate of Registration shall notify the Secretary within thirty (30) days of each change of permanent place of residence. Said persons may also furnish additional mailing addresses.

(b) The notification required in paragraph (a) of this section shall be in writing, by certified mail and addressed to the Administrator, Wage and Hour Division, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210.

(c) Such change of address shall be deemed effective upon receipt by the Administrator, unless a later date is specified in the notice.

(a) Pursuant to section 102(5) of the Act, the Secretary, when so designated by a court, shall accept service of summons in any action arising under the Act or these regulations against any applicant for or any holder of a Certificate of Registration who has left the jurisdiction in which such action is commenced or otherwise has become unavailable to accept such service.

(b) Acceptance of service of summons referred to in paragraph (a) of this section shall be under such terms and conditions as are set by the court in its designation of the Secretary for the purpose of section 102(5) of the Act.

(c) To be effective, such service shall be made by delivery personally or by certified mail, either to the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division in Washington, DC, or to the Administrator's authorized representative located in the area in which the action has been commenced.

Upon receipt of any substituted service, as described in § 500.216, the same shall be forwarded by certified mail to the permanent address furnished by the person for whom service is accepted and to such other address as may be determined appropriate by the Secretary. Such mailing shall complete the Secretary's responsibility in connection with the substituted service requirement of the Act.

Except as specifically provided in these regulations, the “Rules of Practice and Procedure for Administrative Hearings Before the Office of Administrative Law Judges” established by the Secretary at 29 CFR part 18 shall apply to administrative proceedings under MSPA.

(a) Service of determinations to suspend, revoke, refuse to issue, or refuse to renew a certificate of registration or to assess a civil money penalty shall be made by personal service to the individual, officer of a corporation, or attorney of record or by mailing the determination to the last known address of the individual, officer, or attorney. If done by certified mail, service is complete upon mailing. If done by regular mail or in person, service is complete upon receipt by the addressee or the addressee's representative;

(b) Time will be computed beginning with the day following the action and includes the last day of the period unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or Federally observed holiday, in which case the time period includes the next business day; and

(c) When a request for hearing is filed by mail, five (5) days shall be added to the prescribed period during which the party has the right to request a hearing on the determination.

Each administrative proceeding permitted under the Act and these regulations shall be commenced upon receipt of a timely request for hearing filed in accordance with § 500.212.

Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section:

(a) Each administrative proceeding instituted under the Act and these regulations shall be identified of record by a number preceded by the year and the letters “MSPA” and followed by one or more of the following designations:

(1) Proceedings involving the “refusal to issue or to renew, or to suspend or to revoke Certificate of Registration” shall be designated as “R”.

(2) Proceedings involving the “assessment of civil money penalties” shall be designated as “P”.

(3) Proceedings involving both Certificate of Registration and assessment of civil money penalties shall be designated as “R and P”.

(b) The number, letter(s), and designation assigned to each such proceeding shall be clearly displayed on each pleading, motion, brief, or other formal document filed and docketed of record.

(c) Each administrative proceeding involving violations of FLCRA prior to April 14, 1983 and filed with the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge on or after April 14, 1983, shall be identified of record by a number preceded by the year and the letters “FLCRA-MSPA” and followed by one or more of the letter designations provided in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this section, i.e., (year) -FLCRA-MSPA-(#)-(R and/or P).

(a) Each administrative proceeding instituted under the Act and these regulations shall be captioned in the name of the person requesting such hearing, and shall be styled as follows:

(b) For the purposes of such administrative proceeding the “Secretary of Labor” shall be identified as plaintiff and the person requesting such hearing shall be named as respondent.

(a) Upon receipt of a timely request for a hearing filed pursuant to and in accordance with § 500.212, the Secretary, by the Associate Solicitor for the Division of Fair Labor Standards or by the Regional Solicitor for the Region in which the action arose, shall, by Order of Reference, promptly refer an authenticated copy of the notice of administrative determination complained of, and the original or a duplicate copy of the request for hearing signed by the person requesting such hearing or by the authorized representative of such person, to the Chief Administrative Law Judge, for a determination in an administrative proceeding as provided herein. The notice of administrative determination and request for hearing shall be filed of record in the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge and shall, respectively, be given the effect of a complaint and answer thereto for purposes of the administrative proceeding, subject to any amendment that may be permitted under these regulations.

(b) In cases involving a denial, suspension, or revocation of a Certificate of Registration (Farm Labor Contractor Certificate; Farm Labor Contractor Employee Certificate) or “certificate action,” including those cases where the farm labor contractor has requested a hearing on civil money penalty(ies) as well as on the certificate action, the date of the hearing shall be not more than sixty (60) days from the date on which the Order of Reference is filed. No request for postponement shall be granted except for compelling reasons.

(c) A copy of the Order of Reference, together with a copy of these regulations, shall be served by counsel for the Secretary upon the person requesting the hearing, in the manner provided in 29 CFR 18.3.

The Chief Administrative Law Judge shall promptly notify the parties of the docketing of each matter.

Two copies of all pleadings and other documents required for any administrative proceeding provided herein shall be served on the attorneys for the Department of Labor. One copy shall be served on the Associate Solicitor, Division of Fair Labor Standards, Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, and one copy on the Attorney representing the Department in the proceeding.

The Associate Solicitor, Division of Fair Labor Standards, and such other counsel, as designated, shall represent the Secretary in any proceeding under these regulations.

(a) General. At any time after the commencement of a proceeding under this part, but prior to the reception of evidence in any such proceeding, a party may move to defer the receipt of any evidence for a reasonable time to permit negotiation of an agreement containing consent findings and an order disposing of the whole or any part of the proceeding. The allowance of such deferment and the duration thereof shall be at the discretion of the Administrative Law Judge, after consideration of the nature of the proceeding, the requirements of the public interest, the representations of the parties, and the probability of an agreement being reached which will result in a just disposition of the issues involved.

(b) Content. Any agreement containing consent findings and an order disposing of a proceeding or any part thereof shall also provide:

(1) That the order shall have the same force and effect as an order made after full hearing;

(2) That the entire record on which any order may be based shall consist solely of the notice of administrative determination (or amended notice, if one is filed), and the agreement;

(3) A waiver of any further procedural steps before the Administrative Law Judge; and

(4) A waiver of any right to challenge or contest the validity of the findings and order entered into in accordance with the agreement.

(c) Submission. On or before the expiration of the time granted for negotiations, the parties or their authorized representatives or their counsel may:

(1) Submit the proposed agreement for consideration by the Administrative Law Judge; or

(2) Inform the Administrative Law Judge that agreement cannot be reached.

(d) Disposition. In the event an agreement containing consent findings and an order is submitted within the time allowed therefor, the Administrative Law Judge, within thirty (30) days thereafter, shall, if satisfied with its form and substance, accept such agreement by issuing a decision based upon the agreed findings.

(a) The Administrative Law Judge shall prepare, as promptly as practicable after the expiration of the time set for filing proposed findings and related papers a decision on the issues referred by the Secretary.

(b) In cases involving certificate actions as described in § 500.224(b), the Administrative Law Judge shall issue a decision within ninety (90) calendar days after the close of the hearing.

(c) The decision of the Administrative Law Judge shall be limited to a determination whether the respondent has violated the Act or these regulations, and the appropriateness of the remedy or remedies imposed by the Secretary. The Administrative Law Judge shall not render determinations on the legality of a regulatory provision or the constitutionality of a statutory provision.

(d) The decision of the Administrative Law Judge, for purposes of the Equal Access to Justice Act (5 U.S.C. 504), shall be limited to determinations of attorney fees and/or other litigation expenses in adversary proceedings requested pursuant to § 500.212 which involve the modification, suspension or revocation of a Certificate of Registration issued under the Act and these Regulations, and/or the imposition of a civil money penalty assessed for a violation of the Act or these Regulations. The Administrative Law Judge shall have no power or authority to award attorney fees and/or other litigation expenses pursuant to the provisions of the Equal Access to Justice Act or Regulations issued thereunder in any proceeding under MSPA or these Regulations involving the refusal to issue or renew a Certificate of Registration.

(e) The decision of the Administrative Law Judge shall include a statement of findings and conclusions, with reasons and basis therefor, upon each material issue presented on the record. The decision shall also include an appropriate order which may be to affirm, deny, reverse, or modify, in whole or in part, the determination of the Secretary. The reason or reasons for such order shall be stated in the decision.

(f) The Administrative Law Judge shall transmit to the Chief Administrative Law Judge the entire record including the decision. The Chief Administrative Law Judge shall serve copies of the decision on each of the parties.

(g) The decision when served shall constitute the final order of the Secretary unless the Secretary, pursuant to section 103(b)(2) or section 503(b)(2) of the Act, modifies or vacates the decision and order of the Administrative Law Judge.

(h) Except as provided in §§ 500.263 through 500.268, the administrative remedies available to the parties under the Act will be exhausted upon service of the decision of the Administrative Law Judge.

The Administrative Review Board may modify or vacate the Decision and Order of the Administrative Law Judge whenever it concludes that the Decision and Order:

(a) Is inconsistent with a policy or precedent established by the Department of Labor,

(b) Encompasses determinations not within the scope of the authority of the Administrative Law Judge,

(c) Awards attorney fees and/or other litigation expenses pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act which are unjustified or excessive, or

(d) Otherwise warrants modifying or vacating.

(a) Within twenty (20) days after the date of the decision of the Administrative Law Judge, the respondent, the Administrator, or any other party desiring review thereof, may file with the Administrative Review Board (Board) a petition for issuance of a Notice of Intent as described under § 500.265. The petition shall be in writing and shall contain a concise and plain statement specifying the grounds on which review is sought. A copy of the Decision and Order of the Administrative Law Judge shall be attached to the petition.

(b) Copies of the petition shall be served upon all parties to the proceeding and on the Chief Administrative Law Judge.

(a) Whenever, on the Administrative Review Board's (Board) own motion or upon acceptance of a party's petition, the Board believes that a Decision and Order may warrant modifying or vacating, the Board shall issue a Notice of Intent to modify or vacate.

(b) The Notice of Intent to Modify or Vacate a Decision and Order shall specify the issue or issues to be considered, the form in which submission shall be made (i.e., briefs, oral argument, etc.), and the time within which such presentation shall be submitted. The Board shall closely limit the time within which the briefs must be filed or oral presentations made, so as to avoid unreasonable delay.

(c) The Notice of Intent shall be issued within thirty (30) days after the date of the Decision and Order in question.

(d) Service of the Notice of Intent shall be made upon each party to the proceeding, and upon the Chief Administrative Law Judge, in accordance with 29 CFR part 26.

Upon receipt of the Administrative Review Board's (Board) Notice of Intent to Modify or Vacate a Decision and Order of an Administrative Law Judge, the Chief Administrative Law Judge shall, within fifteen (15) days, index, certify, and forward a copy of the complete hearing record to the Board.

(a) Filing. All documents submitted to the Administrative Review Board (Board) shall be filed in accordance with 29 CFR part 26.

(b) Computation of time for delivery. Documents are not deemed filed with the Board until actually received by that office. All documents, including documents filed by mail, must be received by the Board either on or before the due date.

(c) Manner and proof of service. A copy of all documents filed with the Board shall be served upon all other parties involved in the proceeding. Service under this section shall be in accordance with 29 CFR part 26.

(a) The Administrative Review Board's (Board) Decision and Order shall be issued within 120 days from the notice of intent granting the petition, except that in cases involving the review of an Administrative Law Judge decision in a certificate action as described in § 500.224(b), the Board's decision shall be issued within ninety (90) days from the date such notice. The Board's Decision and Order shall be served upon all parties and the Chief Administrative Law Judge, in accordance with 29 CFR part 26.

(b) Upon receipt of an Order of the Board modifying or vacating the Decision and Order of an Administrative Law Judge, the Chief Administrative Law Judge shall substitute such Order for the Decision and Order of the Administrative Law Judge.

(c) The Board's decision is subject to discretionary review by the Secretary as provided in Secretary's Order 01-2020 (or any successor to that order).

(a) The filing of a petition seeking review by the Secretary of a Decision and Order of an Administrative Law Judge, pursuant to § 500.264, does not stop the running of the thirty-day time limit in which respondent may file an appeal to obtain a review in the United States District Court of an administrative order, as provided in section 103(b)(2) or section 503(b)(2) of the Act, unless the Secretary issues a Notice of Intent pursuant to § 500.265.

(b) In the event a respondent has filed a notice of appeal of the Administrative Law Judge's Decision and Order in a United States District Court and the Secretary issues a Notice of Intent, the Secretary will seek a stay of proceedings in the Court until such time as the Secretary issues the final decision, as provided in § 500.268.

(c) Where the Secretary has issued a Notice of Intent, the time for filing an appeal under sections 103(b)(2) or 503(b)(2) of the Act shall commence from the date of the issuance of the Secretary's final decision, as provided in § 500.268.

The official record of every completed administrative hearing provided by these regulations shall be maintained and filed under the custody and control of the Chief Administrative Law Judge.

Upon receipt of timely notice of appeal to a United States District Court pursuant to section 103(c) or 503(c) of the Act, the Chief Administrative Law Judge shall promptly certify and file with the appropriate United States District Court, a full, true, and correct copy of the entire record, including the transcript of proceedings.