Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 49, December 7, 2024
Section 21.5 - Conduct of investigations(a) Within 72 hours of the commencement of an investigation, the complainant will be provided notification thereof by first class mail.(b) The respondent will be provided with a general statement of the alleged violation of the act and other applicable statutes under investigation. Service of the notice is complete upon mailing which will be by certified or registered mail.(c) The complainant and respondent will be notified of the status of the investigation every 90 days until it is complete.(d) The Commission may employ or be assigned staff, including attorneys, investigators and hearing officers, as may be required to properly investigate, review and dispose of complaints and investigations.(e) The Executive Director, staff counsel, director of investigations and special investigators have the authority to conduct interviews, take statements, receive and inspect documents and records and otherwise obtain evidence and gather information by lawful means.(f) Commission staff members identified in subsection (e) are designated to administer oaths or affirmations for the purpose of obtaining voluntary sworn statements with regard to matters which may properly come before the Commission.(g) A person having possession or control of documents or records deemed relevant to an investigation that the Commission is authorized to conduct may be required to produce the materials for inspection by subpoena served by the members of the Commission staff designated in subsection (e). These Commission staff members have the right to retain or have access to subpoenaed documents and records for a reasonable period, and to make copies thereof.(h) The Commission may authorize one or more members of the Commission staff designated in subsection (e) to obtain by subpoena the sworn statement of a person deemed to have information relevant to an investigation that the Commission is authorized to conduct. (1) Sworn statements may be conducted by and before one or more of the staff members in subsection (e).(2) Testimony received in the preparation of a sworn statement will be under oath or affirmation administered and recorded by a stenographer.(3) The authority to question a witness appearing for a sworn statement will be limited to staff members taking the sworn statement, the hearing officer and counsel for the witness.(4) Persons permitted to be in attendance at the preparation of a sworn statement will be limited to staff members of the Commission, the hearing officer, the witness, counsel for the witness and a stenographer.(5) A witness giving a sworn statement may object to a question if it is irrelevant or privileged.(6) A witness subpoenaed by the Commission is entitled to compensation as fixed by 42 Pa.C.S. § 5903 (relating to compensation and expenses of witnesses).(i) Subpoenas issued under subsection (g) or (h) will be authorized by the Commission and signed by the Chair or Vice Chair. Subpoenas may be served by a person empowered to do so or as designated by the Executive Director.(j) Within 180 days of commencing the investigation, the Commission will do one of the following: (1) Terminate the investigation and notify the complainant and respondent.(2) Rule upon a request for an extension by the Executive Director, upon a showing of need, not to exceed 90 days. (i) The granting of or denial of a request for an extension requires a majority vote of a quorum of the Commission.(ii) A maximum of two extensions may be granted.(iii) A findings report will be issued within 180 days after the commencement of an investigation or within the time period of a granted extension.(3) Issue a findings report which sets forth the pertinent facts, and affords the respondent an opportunity to respond to the findings and to request an evidentiary hearing.(k) The respondent shall file a response to the findings report of the Commission within 30 days, unless an application for an extension is made to the Commission and granted for good cause shown. (1) The respondent shall admit or deny the allegations in the findings report by number. Anything not specifically denied or general denials will be deemed an admission of the individual factual finding.(2) New matter raised by a respondent in his answer does not require a reply by the Commission.(m) If an investigation conducted under the act indicates that no violation has been committed, the Commission will immediately terminate the investigation and send written notice of the determination to the complainant and the person who was the subject of the investigation.(n) Subsection (h) supersedes 1 Pa. Code §§ 35.142 and 35.145 (relating to subpoenas; and depositions).Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 54, No. 16. April 20, 2024, effective 4/20/2024 This section cited in 51 Pa. Code § 21.3 (relating to preliminary inquiries); 51 Pa. Code §43.2 (relating to Commission proceedings under section 1307 of the act); 51 Pa. Code §43.5 (relating to investigative process for late or deficient filings); and 51 Pa. Code § 63.2 (relating to Commission proceedings regarding prohibition activities under section 13A07 of the act).