Section 37.01.01.100 - INFORMAL AND FORMAL PROCEEDINGSContested cases before the agency shall be conducted as informal or formal proceedings.
01.Informal Proceedings Defined. Informal proceedings are wholly administrative evaluations and processes, without a presiding officer and hearing record to be preserved for later agency or judicial review, and with representation according to Rule 201.01.02.Formal Proceedings Defined. Formal proceedings are quasi-judicial proceedings conducted by a presiding officer, with a hearing record to be preserved for later agency or judicial review, and with representation according to Rule 201.02.03.Order of Proceedings. Unless otherwise directed by the agency, informal proceedings will be used first in an effort to resolve the issues presented in a contested case. If, after the agency has commenced a formal proceeding, the parties to a contested case settle or resolve the issues of the case, the case may return to an informal proceeding. The agency may also utilize informal proceedings, such as settlement conferences, any time after commencement of a formal proceeding.Idaho Admin. Code r. 37.01.01.100