SECTION 475:1-5-3. Hearing officer

  A hearing officer, designated by the Director, shall preside over the hearings. The functions of the hearing officer shall commence upon his/her designation and terminate upon the certification of the record to the Director. The presiding officer shall have the duty to conduct a fair hearing, to take all necessary action to avoid delay, and to maintain order. He/She shall have all powers necessary to these ends, including, but not limited to:

(1)   Arrange and change the date, time and place of hearings and prehearing conferences and issue notice thereof.

(2)   Hold conferences to settle, simplify or determine the issues in a hearing, or to consider other matters that may aid in the expeditious disposition of the hearing.

(3)   Require parties to state their position in writing with respect to the various issues in the hearing and to exchange such statements with all other parties.

(4)   Examine witnesses and direct witnesses to testify.

(5)   Receive, rule on, exclude or limit evidence.

(6)   Rule on procedural items pending before him/her.

[Source: Amended at 12 Ok Reg 2833, eff 7-15-95]