In any administrative proceeding under this act, each party shall be responsible for his own litigation costs and attorney fees. The committee shall assess and equally apportion among the parties to the hearing, and shall transfer to the Office of Administrative Law, the administrative hearing costs resulting from a protest filed pursuant to this act. Administrative hearing costs shall be based on a billing rate established by the Office of Administrative Law and approved by the Director of Budget and Accounting.
N.J.S. § 56:10-24