Sec.51-275a-7.5. Hearing

(a) Where a petition has been referred to the Commission for a decision, it shall be assigned for a hearing at the next meeting of the Commission after the referral. The Chairman shall provide notice of the hearing to the petitioner and to any person or organization responding to the order of notice at least two weeks prior to the scheduled date of the hearing. Once the hearing commences, it may be continued to such time and place as the Commission designates at any point during the hearing.

(b) Where any party desires to present evidence, the order of proceedings shall be as follows:

(1) Parties may make opening statements, if they desire.

(2) Parties may present evidence.

(3) Parties shall present closing arguments.

(c) At each stage of the proceedings, the parties shall proceed in the following order:

(1) The petitioner shall proceed first.

(2) Following the petitioner, all parties in support of the petition shall proceed in such order as the Commission shall determine.

(3) Then, all parties in opposition to the petition shall proceed in such order as the Commission shall determine.

(4) The Commission in its discretion may allow the petitioner the opportunity for rebuttal.

(5) For the purposes of this section, any party that is uncertain as to whether it supports or opposes the petition shall present its factual and legal position along with the parties opposing the petition.

(Effective September 17, 1987)