; Appointment and Authority of Hearing Officer

; Appointment and Authority of Hearing Officer. The commission may appoint a hearing officer to rule on procedural matters, issue subpoenas, conduct any hearing, administer oaths as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the hearing, or such other matters as ordered by the Commission. The hearing officer may direct the parties to participate in a conference or conferences before the hearing on the merits, for such purposes as expediting the disposition of the action and facilitating resolution of the case. The hearing officer may issue rulings on discovery issues, scheduling matters, protective orders, admissibility of evidence, and other procedural or pre-hearing matters.