(a) The administrative law judge shall submit a proposal for decision to the agency, and the board shall render the final decision in the contested case. The board may request that the proposal for decision be presented to the board by the administrative law judge at the next board meeting.(b) If a party submitted proposed findings of fact, the proposal for decision shall include a ruling on each proposed finding by the administrative law judge.(c) The parties may submit to the board for consideration, prior to the final decision, an alternative proposed board order with changes to the proposal for decision in compliance with the APA.