92 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 43, § 005
If upon written notification of any such proposed action of the commissioner, the aggrieved party desires a hearing and review, such party shall notify the board in writing within ten (10) business days after the giving of notice of such action. If such notification is not given by the aggrieved party, the action shall be deemed final. Upon receipt of such notice from the aggrieved party, the board shall fix the time and place for a hearing and shall notify the aggrieved party by certified mail.
At such hearing, the party may employ counsel, shall have the right to hear the evidence upon which the action is based, and may present evidence in opposition to the commissioner's action or in extenuation or mitigation. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with 92 NAC 61. Any member of the board may preside except when a clear conflict of interest may be demonstrated. The board may utilize hearing officers to conduct the hearings and to present recommendations, including findings of fact and conclusions of law to the board for final decision.
The hearing officer shall set the time and place for any hearing, which shall be at least seven (7) days after the deadline for the filing of answers, unless agreement to set an earlier time is stipulated by petitioner and respondent.
The hearing officer may order two or more petitions that are legally or factually related to be heard together on a consolidated record, unless any party makes a showing, sufficient to satisfy the hearing officer, that it would be prejudiced thereby.
If the respondent in his or her answer requests a prehearing conference, the hearing officer shall hold a prehearing conference with the parties. The prehearing conference may be held in person or by telephone. A telephonic prehearing conference may be used at the discretion of the hearing officer. The conference shall be for the purpose of, but not limited to, the following: simplifying the issues, amending the petition or answer, stipulating to the facts, stipulating to a proposed settlement, submission of witness and exhibit lists, identification of exhibits, application for subpoenas, and requests for discovery orders. The hearing officer may hold a prehearing conference upon request of the petitioner or upon his or her own motion if in his or her discretion he or she determines that a prehearing conference is needed.
The hearing shall be held in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, unless, upon joint application and showing by the parties that another location would be more convenient to the parties and witnesses, or upon such independent determination by the hearing officer, the hearing officer may set the hearing outside Lincoln.
Upon specific request of the respondent or petitioner to hold a closed hearing, the hearing officer may hold a closed hearing to prevent the needless injury to any individual.
At the time of hearing:
Any individual may appear on his or her own behalf before the hearing officer; however, an individual may appear on behalf of another in any proceeding before the hearing officer only if:
Submission of briefs may be required by the hearing officer. If required, the time in which briefs shall be filed will be fixed by the hearing officer at the close of the hearing.
The hearing officer will ensure that an electronic recording of the hearing shall be made or may have the hearing transcribed by a court reporting service. The cost of obtaining verbatim transcripts from a court reporting service shall be paid directly to such service by the parties requesting the transcripts.
92 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 43, § 005