Section 31-1-3 - Pre-hearing procedure in contested cases(a) Any time after the issuance of a complaint and before the scheduled hearing date, the commissioner or such hearing officer as has been designated by the commissioner may order or a party may request an informal pre-hearing conference. The granting or denial of a request for a pre-hearing conference is within the discretion of the commissioner or such hearing officer as has been designated by the commissioner.(b) A pre-hearing conference may be held for any of the following purposes: (i) to discuss the possibility of an informal disposition of the complaint;(ii) to otherwise simplify or schedule matters to be heard at the formal hearing;(iii) to narrow the scope of the issues in dispute;(iv) to obtain stipulations as to matters of fact;(v) to stipulate as to the qualifications of any expert witnesses who are to testify at the hearing.(c) A pre-hearing conference need not be recorded, but a written record will be made of any stipulations as to matters of fact, as to the authenticity of documents, or as to the qualifications of expert witnesses. Any such written record will be signed by each of the individual stipulating parties or his attorney and by the commissioner or his designated representative.Conn. Agencies Regs. § 31-1-3