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(b) Not later than 10 business days after receipt of a request for review, the regional manager shall hold a meeting with the grievant and the supervisor of the employee that is listed in the grievance form. The regional manager may include the employee in the meeting, if the employee’s participation would assist in resolving the grievance. Not later than 15 business days after the meeting, the regional manager shall issue a written decision that notifies the grievant of the determination on the grievance. If the grievant disagrees with the decision of the regional manager, the grievant may request that the field administrator or field administrator’s designee review the decision. For a request to be timely, the field administrator or designee must receive it not later than 10 business days after the date the decision was sent to the grievant. If a timely request for review is not received, the department will consider the matter closed. (c) Not later than 10 business days after receipt of a request for review, the field administrator or designee shall hold a meeting with the grievant and the regional manager. The field administrator or designee may include in the meeting the supervisor of the employee, the employee, or both, if their participation would assist in resolving the grievance. Not later than 15 days after the meeting, the field administrator or designee shall issue a proposed decision for the office director or the office director’s designee. The director or director’s designee may accept, reject, or modify the decision. The director or director’s designee shall issue a decision not later than 10 business days after receiving the recommended decision. A notice shall be sent with the decision, informing the grievant that the decision is a final agency action for purposes of judicial review. (d) A person reviewing a grievance or a request for review may extend, by not more than two consecutive 10-business-day time periods, a time limit under (a) — (c) of this section if

(1) the reviewer is absent on approved leave or official business;

(2) the reviewer needs to consult with a staff member who is absent on approved leave or official business, or have that staff member participate in a meeting; or

(3) unforeseen circumstances prevent a grievant from timely delivering a request for review. (Eff. 9/7/2013, Register 207) Statutory Authority: Authority: AS 47.06.010 AS 47.10.098 AS 47.14.010 Editor’s note: Effective July 1, 2022, Executive Order 121 split the former Department of Health and Social Services into the Department of Health and the Department of Family and Community Services. As of Register 242 (July 2022), the regulations attorney made a conforming technical revision under sec. 138,