When a hearing is held, including a petition to review under Labor Code Section 1773.4, it shall be in accordance with the following procedures:
(a) Hearing Procedures. (1) A time and place of the hearing shall be fixed.(2) All interested parties made known to the Director shall be notified by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, of the time and place of the hearing except that, in the event of numerous interested parties or in the event that mailing notices by registered or certified mail could cause an undue delay adverse to the interest of the parties or a timely hearing, the Director may send certified or registered notices to the petitioner and other directly interested parties that have been made known to the Director and mail notices to the other parties, and publish such notices in newspapers.(3) Notification of the time and place of the hearing shall be at least one week in advance.(4) The interested parties shall be given an opportunity to present evidence and oral or written arguments in support of their positions. The hearing officer may fairly allocate time for such witnesses' testimony in the interest of introducing relevant evidence. Cross examination will be permitted at the discretion of the hearing officer.(5) The hearing need not be conducted according to technical rules relating to evidence and witnesses.(6) All witnesses testifying before the hearing officer shall testify under oath.(7) A full transcript of the hearing shall be recorded.(b) Hearing Officer. The Director may appoint a hearing officer(s). The appointed hearing officer(s) shall conduct the hearing and submit to the Director the entire record of the hearing together with written recommendations. Either the appointed hearing officer(s) or the Director may request documentation subsequent to the hearing to complete the record, and shall send copies of such additional information to the petitioner, awarding body or other designated interested party or parties.(c) Subject Matter. The subject matter of a hearing may be initiated by a petition to review, as set forth in Labor Code Section 1773.4.(d) Decision. The decision of the Director shall reflect a summary of the evidence, findings, or matters of fact and/or law. The decision shall be sent to all parties no later than 20 days after the hearing, except earlier or later as special circumstances warrant. The decision of the Director shall be final, for the purposes of judicial review, except that the Director upon his or her initiative only, may consider and take whatever action is appropriate or necessary to facilitate a decision on reconsideration. Notice of reconsideration shall be given to all parties in the same manner as the notice of hearings as specified in Sections 16304(a)(2) and (a)(3) above and the decision upon reconsideration shall be as specified in subdivisions (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section.
Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 8, § 16304
Note: Authority cited: Section 1773.5, Labor Code. Reference: Sections 1773.4 and 1773.5, Labor Code.