Section 17-602.1-32 - Branch prehearing preparation(a) The branch shall submit to the hearing office a completed branch report which summarizes prehearing information within two weeks after receiving a hearing request.(b) The branch may arrange an interview with the household as soon as possible after the hearing request is received if the protest being made is not clear. However, the branch shall not require the household to have the interview.(c) The report shall be completed from the case file information and information supplied at the initial hearing request.(d) When a household is in the process of transferring from one branch to another, the branch serving the area in which the household is residing shall prepare the report and shall represent the transferring branch in the hearing.(e) The report shall state the branch's position in the action being protested. The report shall be completed in all areas relating to the issue in controversy. A copy of the report shall be sent to the household. (1) Any information made available to the hearing officer either from the case file or from other sources shall also be made available to the household.(2) The report shall not contain speculative or subjective statements and shall be prepared in a manner that will be useful to the household in preparing for the hearing.(f) The hearing officer shall not consider issues raised during the hearing without the household's prior knowledge.(g) If the branch intends to introduce documentary evidence, copies of the documents shall be attached to the report. Names and addresses of witnesses the branch intends to call at the hearing shall be included in the report. The branch shall notify the hearing officer of any witnesses it wishes to subpoena at least two weeks prior to the hearing.Haw. Code R. § 17-602.1-32
[Eff 3/19/93; comp 9/18/06] (Auth: HRS § 346-14) (Imp: 7 C.F.R. §273.15(h) )