Section 176.560  Post-Hearing Submissions

a)         Unless otherwise directed by the Hearing Officer, the parties may submit written proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law (proposed findings) to the Hearing Officer within 14 days after the close of the hearing or such other reasonable time as the Hearing Officer shall determine, consistent with the responsibility of the State Fire Marshal for an expeditious decision. Proposed findings shall not exceed 15 pages in length on regular 8½ by 11 inch paper with 1-inch margins. The proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law shall be separately stated.

b)         All parties who wish to submit proposed findings, or are ordered by the Hearing Officer to submit briefs also containing proposed findings, must submit the following by the applicable deadline:

1)         one original and two paper copies of the party's proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. The two paper copies shall be identically compiled and stapled;

2)         an electronic text version of the brief, in a format compatible with Microsoft Word, on a disc or other computer file memory storage device that is labeled with the name of the party and that does not have to be returned to that party;

3)         a cover letter stating the party on whose behalf the brief is submitted.