Section 2520.725  Hearing Officers – Appointment, Disqualification, Powers and Duties

a)         The Authority shall appoint independent attorneys to serve as hearing officers in administrative hearings under this Subpart F.  Hearing officers shall be attorneys admitted to the practice of law in the State of Illinois for at least 5 years and shall participate in a formal training program on the relevant substantive and procedural law and judicial conduct before assuming their duties as hearing officers.

b)         A motion to disqualify a hearing officer may be made for bias, conflict of interest or other good cause and must be made prior to the commencement of the hearing.

c)         The powers and duties of the hearing officer at the hearing include, but are not limited to:

1)         presiding over the hearing;

2)         explaining the procedures of the hearing to the parties;

3)         administering oaths and listening to testimony;

4)         ruling on the admissibility of evidence and permitting parties to present evidence;

5)         permitting parties to examine and cross-examine witnesses; and

6)         issuing a final order indicating his/her findings.