(1) To appeal a board decision, a primary donor or primary representative must send a letter addressed to the state administrator. The letter of appeal must be signed by the appealing party and be received by the state administrator within thirty calendar days of the date of the decision. The letter must include:

(a) The name and mailing address of the appealing party;

(b) A description of the decision being appealed; and

(c) A statement explaining why the appealing party believes the decision was incorrect, outlining the facts surrounding the decision and including supporting documentation.

(2) On receiving the letter of appeal, the state administrator will send written notice to the appealing party within fourteen days, confirming the appeal has been received and indicating when a decision can be expected.

(3) The governing board or its designee will conduct appeals according to RCW 34.05.485. The governing board or its designee will review and decide the appeal based on the submitted documents unless the governing board or its designee and the appealing party agree to hold a hearing in person or by telephone.

(4) The state administrator will send the appealing party written notification of the governing board or its designee's initial decision within one hundred twenty days of receiving the letter of appeal. The notice will include the reasons for the initial decision, and instructions on further appeal rights.

(5) The initial decision of the governing board or its designee becomes the final decision unless the state administrator receives a request for a review hearing from the appealing party within thirty days of the date of the decision. The appealing party may, by written notice, request review of the initial decision. The person requesting review must reference the initial decision and provide any additional written information that the appealing party would like considered in the review. A review officer designated by the governing board will review the decision through a hearing conducted under RCW 34.05.488 through 34.05.494.

(6) The officer will review and decide the appeal based on submitted documents unless the governing board or its designee and the appealing party agree to hold a hearing in person or by telephone.

(7) The review officer will make any inquiries necessary to determine whether the proceeding must become a formal adjudicative proceeding under the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW.

(8) If the appealing party disagrees with a review decision under subsection (6) of this section, the appealing party may request judicial review of the decision, as provided for in RCW 34.05.542. Request for judicial review must be filed with the court within thirty days of service of the final agency decision.