| (a) Presiding officer's authority and duties. The presiding
officer shall have the authority and duty to:
(1) conduct a full, fair, and efficient hearing;
(2) take action to avoid unnecessary delay in the disposition
of the proceeding;
(3) maintain order; and
(4) rule on prehearing matters.
(b) Presiding officer's powers. The presiding officer
shall have the power to regulate the hearing, and the conduct of the
parties and authorized representatives, including the power to:
(1) administer oaths;
(2) take testimony, including the power to question
witnesses and to request the presence of a witness from a state agency;
(3) rule on admissibility and other questions of evidence;
(4) rule on discovery issues;
(5) issue orders pursuant to this chapter, including
orders imposing sanctions;
(6) exclude irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious
testimony;
(7) reasonably limit the time for presentations of
evidence or argument;
(8) order parties to submit legal memoranda and proposed
findings of fact and conclusions of law; and
(9) reopen the record when justice requires, if the
commission has not issued a final order.
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