(a) Any hearing or proceedings conducted under this
subchapter shall be held, whenever feasible, by telephone (directly
or by relay), but at a time and place reasonably accessible either
to the appellant or the certificate holder and any witnesses, and
convenient for parties. In considering the physical location of a
hearing or proceeding, the impartial hearing officer considers, among
other factors:
(1) the suitability of any proposed facilities for
a hearing, including such accommodations as the ability either of
the appellant or the certificate holder and any witnesses to gain
physical to the proceedings and facilities; and
(2) the comparative distances and times required to
travel from places of work or residence to a proposed hearing location
by parties and witnesses.
(b) DARS shall, upon reasonable notice, provide the
appellant with readers or interpreters. Reasonable notice shall be
considered to be no fewer than five working days prior to the proceeding
unless good cause for a shorter period shall exist in the judgment
of the impartial hearing officer.
(c) A copy of a transcript prepared during hearing
proceedings and all notices and documents are provided to the appellant
in an accessible format upon request.
|