1. A. In General. The Secretary may hold a prehearing conference to address and seek to resolve any one or more of the following preliminary matters:

   1. (1) Issuance of subpoenas;
   2. (2) Identification of contested factual and legal issues;
   3. (3) Stipulations;
   4. (4) Requests for official notice;
   5. (5) Identification and exchange of documentary evidence;
   6. (6) Admissibility of evidence;
   7. (7) Identification and qualification of witnesses;
   8. (8) Motions;
   9. (9) Discovery disputes;
   10. (10) Order of presentation;
   11. (11) Scheduling;
   12. (12) Settlement possibilities or conferences; and
   13. (13) Any other matters that might promote the orderly and prompt conduct of the hearing.
2. B. Preconference Submissions. The Secretary may require the parties to submit prehearing statements or other relevant information before the prehearing conference.

3. C. Conduct of Conference.

   1. (1) The prehearing conference may be conducted by telephone, video, or other electronic means.
   2. (2) At the Secretary's discretion, all or part of the prehearing conference may be recorded.

4. D. Prehearing Orders.

   1. (1) Unless otherwise stated in this subtitle, the Secretary shall issue a prehearing order that sets forth the actions taken or to be taken on any matter addressed at the prehearing conference.
   2. (2) The prehearing order shall be made a part of the record.
   3. (3) Each party to the proceeding is bound by the Secretary's prehearing order, whether the party participated in the prehearing conference or not.

Authority: Human Services Article, §9-204; State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 2; Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: June 18, 2007 (34:12 Md. R. 1067)