Department of Agriculture

1. Horse and Harness Racing Commission Hearings (Commission): These hearings are on appeals filed by Horse and Harness licensees (or license applicants) from decisions of the Commission or Commission track Stewards and Judges regarding license refusals, revocations, ejections from the racetracks, horse racing placement disputes, horse medication positive test results and other miscellaneous violations of the Race Horse Industry Reform Act (Racing Act) (4 P.S. §325.101 et seq.) and the corresponding regulations at 58 Pa. Code §§165.171-165.189 for the Horse Commission and 58 Pa. Code §§183.451-183.466 for the Harness Commission. These hearings are conducted by a Hearing Officer assigned by the Office of General Counsel. The Hearing Officer prepares recommendations to each Commission. The Final Adjudications and Orders of each Commission may be appealed to the Commonwealth Court.
    
2. Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement Hearings: These hearings are on appeals filed by Kennel Licensees (or license applicants) or others from actions of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement regarding kennel license refusals, revocations and other matters. These hearings are conducted under the Administrative Agency Law located at 2 Pa.C. S. §501 et seq., as well as the regulations at 1 Pa. Code §31.1 et seq. and/or 7 Pa. Code §131.1 et seq., as they may be applicable. The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement regulations are located at 7 Pa. Code, Chapter 21 and the Dog Law statute is located at 3 P.S. §459.101 et seq. These hearings are conducted by a Hearing Officer who is assigned to the matter by the Office of General Counsel. The Secretary of Agriculture’s Final Adjudications and Orders may be appealed to the Commonwealth Court.
    
3. Agricultural Lands Condemnation Approval Board (ALCAB) hearings: These hearings involve the proposed condemnation of land located in agricultural security areas for specific purposes/project (highway expansion, etc.). Various governmental entities file such ALCAB hearing requests. It is the responsibility of the ALCAB to determine that there is no reasonable and prudent alternative to the utilization of the lands within the agricultural security area for the project. These hearings are conducted under the Agricultural Area Security Law located at 3 P.S. §901 et seq. and in accordance with the Department of Agriculture regulations at 7 Pa. Code §§ 131.1-131.36. These hearings are conducted by a Hearing Officer who is assigned to the matter by the Office of General Counsel. The ALCAB’s Final Adjudications and Orders may be appealed to the Commonwealth Court.

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