Section 125.180  Evidence

a)         Except with respect to matters of privilege, the rules of evidence as applied in civil cases in courts of this State shall not be strictly applied to hearings under this Part.  Admissibility of evidence shall be liberally interpreted in order to present all matters that are or may be relevant to the issues affecting the parties.

b)         The Hearing Officer shall exclude immaterial, irrelevant and repetitious evidence.

c)         When the admissibility of disputed evidence depends upon an arguable interpretation of substantive law, the Hearing Officer shall admit that evidence.

d)         A party may conduct examinations or cross-examinations without rigid adherence to formal rules of evidence, provided the examination or cross-examination can be shown to be necessary and pertinent to a full and fair disclosure of the subject matters of the hearing.

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 2351, effective February 4, 2011)