Section 27. Powers And Duties Of The Hearing Officer

The hearing officer shall have the authority to: A. preside over hearings; B. assure that hearings are properly recorded; C. administer oaths and affirmations to the witnesses; D. issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum; E. establish procedural schedules; F. rule on motions and procedural requests; G. require parties to attend hearings, pre-hearing conferences and settlement conferences; H. require parties to produce for examination information or witnesses under their control; I. require parties to express their positions on any issues in the proceedings; J. require parties to submit legal briefs on any issues in the proceedings; K. examine witnesses, and permit parties to examine witnesses; L. determine the admissibility of evidence; M. take official notice of any matter that is among the traditional matters of official or administrative notice in accordance with the terms of this rule; N. recess any hearing from time to time; O. regulate the course of the proceedings and the conduct of any participants; P. take any action reasonably necessary to compel discovery or control the conduct of parties or witnesses; Q. issue a recommended decision on the merits of a case, including findings of fact and conclusions of law; R. approve settlements or other pre-hearing or post-hearing dispositions of cases by the parties, subject to final approval by the secretary; and S. take any other action reasonably necessary to conclude the proceedings in a timely and fair manner.