Ch. 8, § 8. Transcripts and Record

. (a) When a contested case is set for hearing, the Office of Administrative Hearings shall assign a docket number to the case and enter the case with its number and date of filing on a docket. The Department shall maintain a separate file for each docketed case in which all pleadings, transcriptions, correspondence, papers, and exhibits for that case shall be maintained. All items shall have noted thereon the assigned docket number and the date of filing. (b) All contested case hearing proceedings shall be recorded, electronically, through the use of a qualified court reporter, or any other appropriate means determined by the Department or the hearing officer. Transcriptions of oral proceedings or written transcripts of a witness's testimony may be obtained by the contestant from the Department upon payment of cost. (i) In a nonpublic investigatory proceeding, requests for copies or transcripts may be limited to testimony of the requesting party. (ii) Where a contestant can demonstrate indigence and cannot effectively perfect the appeal without a transcript, the Department may waive the payment of the fee. (c) A stipulation resolving the matter shall not be part of the record unless otherwise agreed by the parties.