Section 260-RICR-10-00-5.22 - Settlement AgreementsA. Settlement Agreements. At any time after the opening of the prehearing conference and prior to the close of the record of a Departmental hearing, the Parties may attempt to dispose of the matter by entering into a settlement agreement as provided in § 5.15(J) of this Part. Every settlement agreement shall contain, at a minimum, an admission of all jurisdictional facts and express waivers of further procedural steps before the Hearing Officer, including the right to appeal. Upon receiving a settlement agreement, the Hearing Officer may: 1. Accept the settlement agreement and enter an Order reflecting the terms and conditions of the Settlement Agreement.2. Reject the settlement agreement and state the reasons therefore in writing and take such other appropriate administrative action.a. In the event that the Hearing Officer rejects the settlement agreement, either Party may appeal the rejection directly to the Director. Such appeal shall be in writing and shall be filed with the Director no later than seven (7) days after the date the Hearing Officer notifies the Parties, in writing, of the rejection of the settlement agreement. Upon receipt of an appeal, the Director shall take whatever action he/she deems appropriate. Should the Director confirm the Hearing Officer's decision to reject the settlement agreement, such rejection shall be deemed an interim order of the Director and not a final order and the matter shall continue through the administrative hearing process. Nothing herein shall prevent the Parties from subsequently entering into and presenting to the Hearing Officer for consideration a new settlement agreement.260 R.I. Code R. 260-RICR-10-00-5.22