Administrative Hearing Procedures

Administrative Hearing Procedures. A. Written notice shall be provided to any preneed establishment or other person against whom the Attorney General or Secretary of State intends to institute an administrative hearing pursuant to the Act or these Rules. At least twenty (20) calendar days of notice shall be given to the establishment or other person prior to the hearing unless the establishment or other person notified consents or the Division has authority to do so under applicable statute. Notice is effective on date of issue. B. Such notice shall be by certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall set forth the date, time and place for the administrative hearing and shall also designate a Hearing Officer. C. Any Party wishing to appear or introduce evidence or other testimony at the administrative hearing shall, no later than four (4) business days prior to the hearing date, file with the Hearing Officer and the opposing party a list of witnesses which it intends to call to testify or to otherwise give evidence. The list shall contain for each witness: 1) Name; 2) Residential and business address, if known; 3) Residential and business telephone number, if known; 4) A brief summary statement indicating the substance of the person’s expected testimony. D. Upon request by any Party, any documents, papers, or tangible things to be introduced by any Party at the hearing shall be made available for inspection and copying by the requesting Party no later than four (4) business days prior to the hearing date. E. The Hearing Officer, or his or her designee, shall have the authority to administer oaths and affirmations. Each Party may be represented by an attorney or other authorized representative. The Hearing Officer may clear the hearing room of witnesses not under examination. F. The Hearing Officer shall have the authority to maintain the decorum of the hearing and shall take reasonable steps to do so when necessary, including clearing the hearing room of any person who is disruptive. G. The hearing shall be informal and technical rules of evidence shall be relaxed. All witnesses who appear and testify under oath shall be subject to cross-examination. H. The Hearing Officer shall have the authority to admit into the record any evidence which, in his or her judgment, has a reasonable degree of probative value and trustworthiness. The Hearing Officer shall have the authority to exclude evidence which is irrelevant, immaterial, lacking in probative value, untrustworthy or unduly cumulative. I. Documents received into evidence by the Hearing Officer shall be marked by him or her, or under his or her direction, entered into evidence and made a part of the record in the cause. J. Rebuttal and surrebuttal evidence may be heard at the discretion of the Hearing Officer. K. At the hearing, the Attorney General or the Secretary of State or the Division shall be the first to present evidence. L. The Attorney General or the Secretary of State or the Division shall have the burden of proving its allegations by a preponderance of the evidence. Fraud must be proven by clear and convincing evidence. M. A record of testimony at the hearing shall be made. N. A true and correct copy of said stenographic recording shall be made available to any Party requesting it, provided such Party agrees to pay the expense of such copy. O. After all evidence is heard or received and the hearing is completed, the Hearing Officer shall, within a reasonable time thereafter, issue a report and recommendation that details the findings of the hearing officer. All parties (including the Division) shall be served with the Hearing Officer’s Report and Recommendations. Within fourteen (14) days following service of the findings, either party may present a written response to these findings to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State will review the Hearing Officer’s Report and Recommendations, all exhibits entered into evidence, all written responses to the Report and Recommendations and, if desired, order a transcript of the hearing. Thereupon, the Secretary may issue a Final Order adopting and accepting the Hearing Officer’s Report and Recommendations; or reject the report and recommendations in whole or in part and issue findings of fact and conclusions of law with a Final Order; or, remand the case to the Hearing Officer for additional findings or clarification of key issues. A case is not concluded until issuance of a Final Order by the Secretary of State. All reports and recommendations and final orders shall be sent via certified mail, return receipt requested, to all Parties who appeared at the administrative hearing or their attorney or authorized representative. P. Continuances requested by any Party will be granted within the discretion of the Hearing Officer only for good cause shown. Q. In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed under these Rules, the Hearing Officer and all Parties shall be guided by the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure.