Determination of claims

(1) The department shall have authority to allow, deny, controvert, and litigate claims made against it and to delegate to the Crime Victims’ Services Office such authority. (2) The action of the department or the Crime Victims’ Services Office in allowing, denying, or controverting a claim shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 120. (3) If the department or the Crime Victims’ Services Office denies or controverts the claim, the right to reimbursement under this chapter shall be barred unless an application for a hearing thereon is filed with the department or the Crime Victims’ Services Office at its office in Tallahassee within 60 days after notice to the claimant of such denial or controversion. When such application for a hearing is filed in a timely manner, the claim shall be referred to a hearing officer designated by the Attorney General for determination by a hearing held pursuant to ss. 120.569 and 120.57. (4) Any claim pending before the Division of Administrative Hearings but not heard before July 1, 1992, shall be referred to the Department of Legal Affairs for hearing pursuant to subsection (3).