If CalVCB recommends denial of your application or request for reimbursement, you have the right to appeal the recommendation. Filing an appeal means you are asking the Board to reevaluate the recommendation made on your application or request for reimbursement.

On this page:

• Filing an appeal
• Type and date of hearing
• Preparing for the hearing
• During the hearing
• After the hearing

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Filing an appeal

If CalVCB denies your application or expense, we will send you a letter. If you want to appeal the decision, you must file an appeal in writing within 45 days of this notice.

You may use the CalVCB appeal form or write a letter. Explain why CalVCB should approve the application or expense. Include any supporting documentation. Then sign, date, and mail the form or letter to:

CalVCB
Attn: Appeals
P.O. Box 350
Sacramento, CA 95812-0350

Type and date of hearing

CalVCB will review all the information in your file. If the issues on appeal cannot be overcome, CalVCB will send you the Hearing Officer’s recommendation and will inform you of your hearing options in writing.

• If you choose an oral hearing, you can select to appear via the following:
  • Video or Telephone via Zoom
  • In-person in Sacramento
• CalVCB will inform you in writing of the day and time of, and directions on how to appear at, your hearing.
• If you want a different hearing date, you must contact CalVCB in writing and give a reason for the change. You must show good cause to change a hearing date.
• If you choose to submit additional documents:
  • You will have 30 days to send materials that show why CalVCB should approve the application or expense. 
  • You do not need to resubmit documents you already provided. The Board will consider all documents in your file and send you a final decision in writing.
• If you choose to do nothing:
  • The Hearing Officer’s recommendation will be adopted by the Board as a final decision.

Preparing for the hearing

It is important that you appear at and are prepared for the hearing (whether by phone, videoconference, or in-person). To prepare for the hearing you may want to:

• Review the information provided in the Issues on Appeal and Hearing Officer’s recommendation letter sent to you by CalVCB.
• Gather any additional information for the Hearing Officer that will help support your appeal.
• Be ready to discuss why you think the original recommendation on your application or request for reimbursement should be changed.
• Have documents, witnesses or supporting information available during the hearing.
• Allow at least 60 minutes of uninterrupted time.

Be sure to be available at the time of your hearing. If you are not available, we will take action on the appeal without the benefit of your testimony.

During the hearing

A Hearing Officer will conduct the hearing on behalf of the Board. The hearing is informal, but we will ask you and your witnesses to swear the statements given are true. CalVCB records the hearings and saves the testimony as part of the record.

• The Hearing Officer may ask questions.
• You will get to explain why you believe CalVCB should approve the application or expense.
• You may present witnesses who can give information to support the appeal.
• A representative may also attend the hearing with you or on your behalf.

After the hearing

The Hearing Officer will write a proposed decision, then present it to the Board.

The Board may:

• Accept the proposed decision,
• Change it,
• Reject it, or
• Send it back to the Hearing Officer for further review.

Once the Board makes a decision, CalVCB will send you a copy of it.