(a) Any person adversely affected by any decision of the Office under this chapter may petition the Office for a review of the decision. This petition shall be filed with the Office within 15 business days of the notice of adverse decision, and shall specifically describe the matters which are disputed by the petitioner. The Office may immediately respond to the petition, and the response shall be a final administrative decision, or it may refer the matter to an employee appointed to act as a hearing officer.

(b) If the matter is referred to an employee for a hearing, a hearing shall be scheduled and conducted informally. The formal rules of evidence shall not apply. The employee hearing officer may accept into the record any information or evidence upon which reasonable people could rely. The employee hearing officer shall then prepare a proposed decision, and shall submit it to the Director, or the Director's designee, for final administrative action.