Hearing on application for certificate; notice

The commissioner, upon the filing of a petition for a certificate, shall fix a time and place for hearing thereon and shall, at least ten days before the hearing, give notice thereof by advertising the same at the expense of the applicant in a newspaper in Atlanta, in which sheriffs’ notices are published. If no protest is filed with the commissioner or if the protest is subsequently withdrawn, the commissioner may issue the certificate without a hearing. (Ga. L. 1931, p. 199, § 6; Code 1933, § 68-611; Ga. L. 1996, p. 950, § 3; Ga. L. 2000, p. 951, § 9-4; Ga. L. 2004, p. 366, § 9.) The 2004 amendment, effective July 1, 2004, deleted ‘‘of public convenience and necessity’’ following ‘‘certificate’’ near the beginning of the first sentence. Editor’s notes. — Ga. L. 2000, p. 951, § 13-1, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that the 2000 Act which amended this Code section becomes fully effective July 1, 2001, but authorizes administrative action commencing April 28, 2000, for purposes of appointing certain officials, adopting rules and regulations, employing personnel, and preparing for and phasing in full implementation; provided, however, that the Governor may by executive order extend the date for full implementation of the Act to no later than July 1, 2003. In accordance with an executive order issued June 29, 2001, by the Governor, the amendment of this Code section by Ga. L. 2000, p. 951, became fully effective July 1, 2001.