Sec.10-76h-13. Conduct of hearings

(a) The hearing officer shall take reasonable measures, including the exclusion from the hearing of parties, counsel, or any other participant, to ensure that the parties, counsel and all other participants comport themselves civilly and that the hearing is conducted in a fair and orderly manner. Behavior which may result in exclusion includes, but is not limited to, abusive speech, inflammatory remarks or disrespectful conduct towards the hearing officer, counsel or any party or party representative, or witnesses.

(b) If an interpreter is needed for a prehearing conference or any session of a hearing, the burden is on the party requiring the interpreter to so inform the due process unit. The due process unit shall seek to ensure that a qualified interpreter is available as needed.

(c) The hearing officer shall cause all formal sessions of the hearing to be recorded in order to create a verbatim record.

(d) The hearing officer shall hear evidence admissible as provided in section 10-76h-15 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(e) The hearing officer may require a complete and independent evaluation or prescription of educational programs by any qualified person, the cost of which shall be paid by the public agency. The hearing officer's criteria for the selection of an evaluator shall be the same as that required by the public agency, if any, in accordance with 34 CFR Section 300.502(e).

(Adopted effective July 1, 2000)