HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2263

(3)  THE FACTS STATED IN THE APPLICATION;

(4)  THE NUMBER OF OTHER GROUP HOMES OR ALTERNATIVE
LIVING UNITS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD;

(5)  THE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE; AND

(6)  THE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, SHOPPING AND
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, AND HEALTH RELATED SERVICES.

(B)  WHEN AN APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL IS
FILED, THE SECRETARY SHALL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE
APPLICATION.

(C)  (1) THE SECRETARY SHALL PUBLISH A NOTICE OF THE HEARING
WITHIN 60 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE COMPLETED APPLICATION.

(2) THE NOTICE SHALL STATE:

(I)  THE NAME OF THE APPLICANT;

(II)  THE TYPE OF APPROVAL THAT IS SOUGHT;

(III)  THE LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED PRIVATE
GROUP HOME; AND

(IV)  THE TIME AND PLACE THAT THE SECRETARY SETS
FOR THE HEARING, WHICH SHALL BE AT LEAST 7 BUT NOT MORE THAN 15
DAYS AFTER THE LAST PUBLICATION OF THE NOTICE.

(D)  THE NOTICE SHALL BE PUBLISHED AT LEAST TWICE IN 1 WEEK:

(1)  IN 2 NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE
PRIVATE GROUP HOME IS TO BE LOCATED;

(2)  IF ONLY 1 NEWSPAPER IS PUBLISHED IN THAT COUNTY,
IN THAT NEWSPAPER; OR

(3)  IF A NEWSPAPER IS NOT PUBLISHED IN THAT COUNTY,
ANY NEWSPAPER WITH SUBSTANTIAL CIRCULATION IN THAT COUNTY.

7-612.

(A)  THE SECRETARY SHALL ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL TO
ANY APPLICANT WHO MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THIS PART III OF
THIS SUBTITLE.

(B)  UNLESS AN APPLICANT AGREES TO EXTEND THE TIME, THE
SECRETARY SHALL APPROVE OR DENY AN APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF
APPROVAL WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE HEARING REQUIRED BY § 7-611 OF
THIS SUBTITLE.

(C)  IF THE SECRETARY FAILS TO APPROVE OR DENY THE
APPLICATION WITHIN THAT TIME, THE APPLICATION SHALL BE DEEMED TO