N.H. Code Admin. R. Fire 202.15 – Rendering a Decision

(a) A commission member shall not participate in making a decision unless he or she personally heard the testimony in the case, unless the matter’s disposition does not depend on the credibility of any witness and the record provides a reasonable basis for evaluating the testimony.
(b) If a presiding officer has been delegated the authority to conduct a hearing in the absence of a majority of the commission who are to render a final decision, the presiding officer shall submit to the commission a written proposal for decision, which shall contain a statement of the reasons for the decision and findings of fact and rulings of law necessary to the proposed decision.
(c) If a proposal for decision in a matter not personally heard by a commission member is adverse to a party to the proceeding other than the commission itself, the commission shall serve a copy of the proposal for decision on each party to the proceeding and provide an opportunity to file exceptions and present briefs and oral arguments to the commission.
(d) A proposal for decision shall become a final decision upon its approval by the commission.
(e) All decisions shall be reached on the basis of a preponderance of the evidence.
(f) The commission shall keep a decision on file in its records for at least 5 years following the date of the final decision or the date of the decision on any appeal, unless the director of the division of records management and archives of the department of state sets a different retention period pursuant to rules adopted under RSA 5:40.
Source #7332, eff 8-1-00; ss by #9218, INTERIM, eff 8-1-08; ss by #9319-A, eff 11-12-08 (from Fire 201.18); ss by #12225-A, eff 6-28-17 (formerly Fire 201.20) (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Fire 200)