Section 660. Informal settlement meetings

A. If an authorized retailer is being considered for possible adverse action, including but not limited to authorization denial and program disqualification, the state agency shall offer an optional informal settlement meeting with retailer management prior to taking administrative action. The state WIC director or designee shall be in attendance. The purpose of the informal settlement meeting is to:

1. Identify areas of noncompliance;

2. Provide a forum for the retailer to submit information about the impact of the adverse action on WIC participants;

3. Review criteria for authorization exception decisions pursuant to 12VAC5-195-370;

4. Review the inadequate participant access results, if applicable;

5. Review the civil monetary penalty for retailers being retained in lieu of disqualification, if applicable; and

6. Provide information to the retailer regarding its appeal rights, if applicable.

B. The retailer or applicant has 15 calendar days from the date of receipt of the state agency correspondence to postmark a written request for an informal settlement meeting.

C. The request for the informal settlement meeting can be hand delivered, mailed by US mail, UPS, or FedEx, sent by facsimile transmission or sent via email to the state agency.

D. Upon receipt of the retailer's or applicant's request for an informal settlement meeting, the state agency will confirm a date, time, place and method for the informal settlement meeting.

E. All requests to reschedule the meeting must be submitted in writing at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting date, unless an emergency occurs, as determined at the discretion of the state WIC director or designee.

F. If the retailer representative is more than 45 minutes late from the agreed upon meeting start time, then this will be considered a "no show" unless he can provide documentation that the state WIC director or designee determines justifies his tardiness or failure to appear. The state agency will proceed with administrative decisions without the input of the retailer should the representative either fail to schedule, fail to appear, or fail to reschedule the informal settlement meeting.

G. Informal settlement meetings are either conducted through face-to-face meetings in Richmond, Virginia, or via video conference. For informal settlement meetings that are held via video conference, the authorized retailer or applicant would be required to travel to a local agency that has videoconferencing equipment available.

H. After the informal settlement meeting is held and all supporting documentation is received by the state agency, the state agency shall send within 15 days a written summary of the meeting's results to a designated retailer representative. If the resolution offered from the informal settlement meeting is unacceptable to the retailer, then the retailer or applicant may request a full administrative review in writing. This written request must be submitted to the state agency and postmarked within 15 calendar days from the date of receipt of the informal settlement meeting summary. The state agency will identify if the retailer's request qualifies under federal regulations for a full administrative review. If the retailer's request is not eligible, then the retailer will receive a written response from the state agency of this decision.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 24, Issue 19, eff. May 26, 2008; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 22, eff. July 6, 2009; Volume 29, Issue 12, eff. March 13, 2013.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-12 of the Code of Virginia; 7 CFR Part 246.