Section 43-40-16. Refusal to issue licenses; hearings; judicial review

   (a) If the commission, after an application in proper form has been filed with it, accompanied by the proper fee, shall refuse to issue a license to such applicant, the commission shall provide an opportunity for a hearing for such applicant in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act." Unless otherwise agreed by the commission, all such hearings shall be held in the county of the domicile of the commission.

(b) Any person who has exhausted all administrative remedies available within this chapter and who is aggrieved by a final decision in a contested case is entitled to judicial review in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50. Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (b) of Code Section 50-13-19 to the contrary, initial judicial review of a final decision of the commission shall be available solely in the superior court of the county of domicile of the commission.

Ga. L. 1925, p. 325, §§ 13, 14; Ga. L. 1929, p. 316, §§ 33, 34; Code 1933, §§ 84-1419, 84-1420, 84-1421; Ga. L. 1949, p. 943, §§ 4, 5; Code 1933, § 84-1416, enacted by Ga. L. 1973, p. 100, § 1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1527, § 17; Ga. L. 2003, p. 370, § 12.