Hearings

(a) A hearing shall be held in all contested cases whenever required by statute, when requested by any party that files a notice of appearance and a request for a hearing, and otherwise as the commissioner may authorize pursuant to section 36a-24 of the Connecticut General Statutes. (b) Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the contested case provisions of the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 54, sections 4-177 to 4-182, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes. (c) All hearings shall be open to the public, except that the presiding officer may hold an executive session as provided in subsection (f) of section 1-225 of the Connecticut General Statutes.