Section 129.6.22. Hearing procedures.

         6.22(1) Role of presiding officer. The presiding officer shall preside at and be in control of the proceedings and shall have the authority to:

            a.               Issue such orders and rulings as will ensure the orderly conduct of the proceedings;

            b.               Rule on motions and objections;

            c.               Administer oaths to witnesses;

            d.               Admit or exclude testimony or other evidence;

            e.               Require that the parties submit briefs; and

            f.                Issue a proposed decision.

         6.22(2) Public hearing. The hearing shall be open to the public. At the request of a party or on the presiding officer’s own motion, the presiding officer may issue a protective order to protect all or a part of a record or information which is privileged or confidential by law.

         6.22(3) Decorum. The presiding officer shall maintain the decorum of the hearing and may refuse to admit or may expel anyone whose conduct is disruptive or disorderly.

         6.22(4) Record of proceedings. Oral proceedings shall be recorded either by mechanical or electronic means or by certified shorthand reporters. Oral proceedings or any part thereof shall be transcribed at the request of any party, with the expense of the transcription charged to the requesting party. The recording or stenographic notes of oral proceedings or the transcription shall be filed with and maintained by the office for at least five years from the date of decision.

         6.22(5) Right to participation.  Subject to terms and conditions prescribed by the presiding officer, parties in a contested case proceeding have the right to introduce evidence on issues of material fact, cross-examine witnesses who testify at the hearing as necessary for a full and true disclosure of the facts, present evidence in rebuttal, and submit briefs and engage in oral argument.

         6.22(6) Examination of witnesses. All witnesses shall be sworn or affirmed by the presiding officer or the court reporter and be subject to examination and cross-examination. The presiding officer may limit questioning consistent with Iowa Code section 17A.14 and other applicable law.

         6.22(7) Sequestering witnesses. The presiding officer, on the officer’s own motion or upon the request of a party, may sequester witnesses during the hearing.

         6.22(8) Witness fees. The parties in a contested case shall be responsible for any witness fees and expenses incurred by witnesses appearing at the contested case hearing, unless otherwise specified or allocated in an order. The costs for lay witnesses shall be determined in accordance with Iowa Code section 622.69. The costs for expert witnesses shall be determined in accordance with Iowa Code section 622.72. Witnesses are entitled to reimbursement for mileage and may be entitled to reimbursement for meals and lodging, as incurred.

         6.22(9) Depositions. Depositions may be used at hearing to the extent permitted by Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.704.

         6.22(10) Objections. All objections to procedures, admissions of evidence, or any other matter shall be timely made and stated on the record.

         6.22(11) Witness right to legal representation. Witnesses are entitled to be represented by an attorney at their own expense. An attorney to a witness may assert legal privileges personal to the client, but may not make other objections. The attorney may only ask questions of the client to prevent a misstatement from entering the record.

         6.22(12) Order of proceedings. The presiding officer shall generally conduct hearings in the following order:

            a.               The presiding officer shall give an opening statement, which shall be on the record, in which the presiding officer briefly identifies himself or herself, identifies the primary parties and their representatives, notes the fact that all testimony is being recorded, and describes the nature of the proceedings;

            b.               The parties shall be given an opportunity to present opening statements;

            c.               The parties shall present their cases in the sequence determined by the presiding officer;

            d.               When all parties and witnesses have been heard, the parties may be given the opportunity to present final arguments.

[ARC 2542C, IAB 5/25/16, effective 6/29/16]