Section 14.20  Venue and Conduct of Hearings

a)         All hearings will be conducted in the county in which the appellant resides or in another county acceptable to the appellant. Hearings under this Section may be conducted with some or all of the parties, including the hearing officer, at different locations connected with each other by telephone [305 ILCS 5/11-8.2].

b)         If the appellant is outside the State, the hearing officer may take depositions from the appellant and the appellant's witnesses or permit the appellant to present all relevant matter in support of this claim. This may be accomplished through witnesses acting in the appellant's behalf, or both by deposition or testimony of witnesses, depending upon the circumstances in each case [305 ILCS 5/11-8.2].

c)         All hearings will be conducted by:

1)         An impartial hearing officer authorized by the Secretary to consider issues under appeal covered by this Part; or

2)         A Public Aid Committee for General and Transitional  Assistance appeals outside the City of Chicago.

d)         The hearing shall be open to such persons as the hearing officer or the Public Aid Committee deems necessary and proper for the orderly and efficient conduct of the hearing.

e)         The Department shall provide reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 USC 12101) for access to and participation in a hearing.