(a) When a contested case has been instituted, the respondent or the representative of the respondent shall enter an appearance not later than 20 days after the date of receipt of notice of hearing.(b) For purposes of this section, a contested case shall mean any action that is referred by the Board to SOAH.(c) For purposes of this section, an entry of appearance shall mean the filing of a written answer or other responsive pleading with SOAH.(d) The filing of an untimely appearance by a party, or entering an appearance at the contested case hearing entitles the Board to a continuance of the hearing in the contested case at the Board's discretion for such a reasonable period of time as determined by the administrative law judge, but not for a period of less than 20 days. For purposes of this section, an untimely appearance is an appearance not entered within 20 days of the date the respondent has received notice.