Who must notify parties of a public hearing, whom must that notification reach, and what must the notice and public announcement cover?
General information · Not legal advice
Material to check
In a practice file, read the agency's papers recording its intention to hold the public hearing, the register showing who the parties and others are and when each was notified, and the gazette, official bulletin, website page or newspaper carrying the announcement. Where a hearing was put off, the record of the newly fixed time and place also matters to the proviso.
These are types of material to look for, not evidence already verified by PRO SE.
Where readings differ
One reading makes the duty the administrative agency's alone: where it intends to hold a public hearing, it must notify the parties and others and make the hearing widely known by gazette, official bulletin, website, daily newspaper or similar means, within the period the provision sets, covering the title, time and place, main contents, speakers, how and when to apply to speak, online opinion submission, and other necessary matters.
Another reading takes the proviso narrowly: the shortened period applies only where notice has already been given but the hearing could not be held as scheduled and a new time and place is set, which must then be announced within the shorter period the provision sets. The words 'or similar means' leave open which further channels count as making the hearing widely known.
Your judgment
What in the record shows the hearing could not be held as scheduled, and that the shortened period for a fresh announcement is the one in play?
PRO SE does not make this decision or keep a case record on this public site.When to reconsider
We look at this again if the provision is amended to change either period or the matters that must be announced, or if a decision settles how far 'similar means' reaches.