405 IAC 1.1-1-6 Hearing decision

Sec. 6. (a) Following the completion of the hearing, or after the submission of briefs by the parties (if briefing is permitted by the ALJ), the administrative law judge shall issue his or her decision in the matter concurrently to the parties. The decision shall be final unless a party requests agency review of the decision in accordance with 405 IAC 1.1-2. (b) The ALJ's decision shall: (1) include findings of fact; (2) specify the reasons for the decision; and (3) identify the evidence and statutes, regulations, rules, and policies supporting the decision. (c) The findings of fact need not include a recitation of every piece of evidence admitted in the evidentiary hearing. Rather, the findings should contain the basic facts that have formed the basis for the ALJ's ultimate decision. The decision must demonstrate a rational connection between the basic facts found by the ALJ and the ALJ's ultimate decision. The ALJ's decision must also cite the relevant laws upon which the ultimate decision is based, and relate the facts to the law.