1. a) Upon direction of the Commission or on his or her own motion, the Hearing Examiner may request all parties to attend a pre-arbitration conference. Notice of the pre-arbitration conference shall be given in writing, telephone, e-mail, or telephone facsimile not later than 24 hours before the pre-arbitration conference. Such a conference may be held for any purpose, including, but not limited to:

   1. 1) Scheduling;
   2. 2) Identification and simplification of issues;
   3. 3) Amendments to documents;
   4. 4) Limitations on the number of witnesses;
   5. 5) The issuance of rulings denying, limiting, conditioning or regulating discovery;
   6. 6) The issuance of rulings supervising all or any part of any discovery procedure; and
   7. 7) Such other matters as may aid in the simplification of the issues and disposition of the proceeding.

(Source: Amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 15958, effective October 15, 2000)