1. (a) Hearings shall be conducted by a quorum of the board under the direction of a presiding officer designated by the board;

   1. (1) When a case is assigned to a presiding officer, it shall remain with that presiding officer until the case is concluded unless transferred pursuant to these rules;
   2. (2) The presiding officer shall not be the person who is the official complainant against the party involved; and
   3. (3) In the event of absence, disability or disqualification of a presiding officer, a case assigned to one presiding officer shall be transferred to another by the appropriate supervisor.

2. (b) The presiding officer shall as necessary:

   1. (1) Regulate and control the course of the hearing;
   2. (2) Facilitate an informal settlement of the dispute that is the subject of the hearing;
   3. (3) Administer oaths and affirmations;
   4. (4) Receive relevant evidence and exclude irrelevant, immaterial or unduly repetitious evidence;
   5. (5) Rule on procedural requests, including adjournments or continuances, at the request of a party or intervenor or on the presiding officer's own motion;
   6. (6) Interview and examine anyone who testifies to the extent required to make a full and fair record;
   7. (7) Arrange for a completed record of the hearing as specified in RSA 541-A:31, VII; and
   8. (8) Take any other action consistent with applicable statutes, rules and case law necessary to conduct the hearing and complete the record in a fair and timely manner.

Source. #10798, eff 3-18-15