SB 949 - Under this act, appeals of environmental issues would be conducted by the Administrative Hearing Commission (AHC). The Commission is expanded from three to four members with one member having an interest in and knowledge of environmental issues.

Under this act, a petition for hearing before the AHC must be filed within 30 days. All findings, orders, decisions and assessments must have language notifying the parties of their rights to appeal for a hearing before the AHC. Matters heard by the AHC will be governed by the provisions of Chapter 536, RSMo. These matters shall take precedence over all other matters heard by the AHC. Decisions shall be rendered within 60 days of the completion of the hearing. Transcripts of hearings must be retained by the AHC and the decisions made must be made available to the public.

Under this act, all decisions of the AHC shall be subject to judicial review and that right shall be available to Department of Natural Resources and any other commission aggrieved by the AHC's final decision.

In all matters heard by the AHC pursuant to this act, the burden of proof shall be on the applicant on the appeal of a denial of a request for a permit, license or registration and the burden of proof shall be on the challenger or petitioner on the appeal of a granting of a request.

The effective date of this act is January 1, 2005.
MEGAN CRAIN