§ 8-506. Conduct of hearings

   (a) In general. --

   (1) A hearing examiner shall conduct a hearing or appeal in a manner that ascertains the substantial rights of the parties.

   (2) (i) A hearing examiner is not bound by statutory or common law rules of evidence or technical rules of procedure.

      (ii) A hearing examiner shall consider evidence offered in accordance with § 10-213 of the State Government Article.

(b) Conflicts of interest. --

   (1) (i) A hearing examiner may not participate in any proceeding in which the hearing examiner has a direct or indirect interest.

      (ii) The status of the Secretary as a party to a case may not constitute a direct or indirect interest as to a hearing examiner.

   (2) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, ex parte communications are subject to § 10-219 of the State Government Article.

      (ii) Section 10-219(d) of the State Government Article does not apply to ex parte communications under this subtitle.

(c) Consolidation of claims. --

   (1) A hearing examiner may consolidate claims by more than one individual or claims by a single individual for 2 or more weeks of unemployment if:

      (i) the same or substantially similar evidence is relevant and material to the matters at issue; and

      (ii) in the judgment of the hearing examiner, the consolidation would not be prejudicial to a party.

   (2) when claims are consolidated under this subsection, the hearing examiner may:

      (i) set the same time and place for considering each claim;

      (ii) conduct joint hearings;

      (iii) make a single record of the proceedings; and

      (iv) consider evidence that is introduced in a proceeding for one claim as having been introduced for another claim.

(d) Record of proceedings. --

   (1) A record shall be kept, in accordance with § 10-218 of the State Government Article, of all testimony and proceedings before a hearing examiner.

   (2) Testimony shall be transcribed if:

      (i) judicial review is initiated; or

      (ii) the hearing examiner or the Board of Appeals orders a transcription.

(e) Witness fees. --

   (1) A witness who is subpoenaed under this subtitle is entitled to compensation at a rate that the chief hearing examiner sets.

   (2) The compensation of a witness who is subpoenaed on behalf of the Lower Appeals Division or a claimant shall be considered part of the expense of administering this title.

(f) Prohibition on fees. -- The Lower Appeals Division may not charge a claimant a fee in any proceeding under this title.

(g) Notice of decision. --

   (1) A hearing examiner promptly shall give each party to a proceeding before it written notice of its decision by mailing the notice to each party at the last known address of the party or business address of a licensee in accordance with § 10-209(a) of the State Government Article, or otherwise delivering the notice.

   (2) The notice shall:

      (i) include the findings of fact and conclusions of law that support the decision;

      (ii) be accompanied by any order necessary to give effect to the decision; and

      (iii) conform to the requirements of § 10-221 of the State Government Article.

HISTORY: 2008, ch. 660, § 3.