This section sets out how local authorities and the commissioner decide whether to withhold permits, and how a person may file a sworn opposition to a permit application.
§87. Procedure for determination to issue or withhold permit A. The right to determine what persons shall or shall not be licensed under this Chapter shall be exercised in the following manner: (1) Municipal authorities and parish governing authorities shall, independently of the commissioner, investigate all applications filed with them for local permits, and shall withhold the issuance of a permit where that action is justified under the provisions of this Chapter. The decision to withhold a local permit shall be made within thirty-five calendar days of the filing of the application. Within that period, the withholding authority shall notify the commissioner in writing that it is withholding the permit and give the reason therefor. Upon receipt of this notice, supported by reasons enumerated in or authorized by this Chapter, the commissioner shall withhold issuance of the applicant's state permit. Within five calendar days after the receipt of the notice from the local authorities, the commissioner shall notify the applicant in writing of the action and shall assign the reasons therefor. Such notice shall be either delivered to the applicant in person or sent to him by registered mail at the business address given in his last application. When so addressed and mailed, it shall be conclusively presumed to have been received by the applicant. (2) The commissioner shall investigate all applications for state permits and shall withhold the issuance of the permit where that action is justified under the provisions of this Chapter. The decision to withhold the permit shall be made within thirty-five calendar days of the filing of the application. Within that period, the commissioner shall notify in writing the municipal authority or parish governing authority, as the case may be, where the applicant has his place of business, that it is withholding the permit and shall give his reasons therefor. Upon receipt of this notice, the governing authorities of the municipality or parish, as the case may be, shall withhold the issuance of the local permit. Within five calendar days of the decision to withhold the permit the commissioner shall notify the applicant in writing of the withholding of the permit and shall assign the reasons therefor. Such notice shall be either delivered to the applicant in person or sent to him by certified mail at the mailing address given in his last application. When so addressed and mailed, it shall be conclusively presumed to have been received by the applicant. (3) Any person may oppose the issuance of any permit by filing with the commissioner a sworn petition of opposition within thirty-five days of the date the application for a state permit was received. If this petition is timely filed, the commissioner shall withhold the state permit and immediately notify the proper local authority, who shall withhold the local permit. The commissioner shall summon the applicant and hold a hearing on the petition of opposition in the manner provided by this Chapter. B. No petition of opposition shall be acted upon by the commissioner unless the petitioner states in an affidavit that he, together with witnesses, if any, will appear at the hearing to establish the allegations of the petition and unless the petition sets forth facts constituting a cause or causes enumerated in or authorized by this Chapter for the withholding of a permit. Acts 1987, No. 696, §1; Acts 2014, No. 69, §1, eff. May 16, 2014.