(a) Not later than thirty (30) days after service of the complaint Respondent shall file an answer to the complaint.

(b) When the state or any public agency or officer of the state is Petitioner, the answer shall be verified, unless an admission of the truth of the complaint might subject the Party to a criminal prosecution. If an objection to the complaint is filed under Section 1356, time to answer is extended until 30 days after the Arbitrator has ruled on the objection. The time to answer may be extended by agreement of the relevant Parties, but an extension of time to answer does not extend the time to file an objection to the complaint under Section 1356.

(c) The answer or objection will not be filed unless the Respondent submits a non-refundable filing fee, established by and payable to the Office of Administrative Hearings, and proof of service required in section 1305. The Office of Administrative Hearings may defer a Public Agency's timely submission of the filing fee due to delay in enactment of the state budget or similar circumstances out of the control of the Public Agency.