1. A. Hearings will be conducted as follows:

   (1) all hearings will be open to the public, unless closing a hearing is necessary to protect the privacy of any person who is entitled to privacy protection under federal or state law;

   (2) only relevant and material evidence is admissible at hearings. Evidence will be allowed if it is of a type commonly relied upon by reasonably prudent persons in the conduct of serious affairs;

   (3) redundant evidence will be excluded;

   (4) witnesses shall be examined orally, under oath or affirmation. The parties and the hearing officer shall have the right to cross-examine witnesses; and

   (5) the hearing officer may take official notice of any matter that is among the traditional matters of official or administrative notice, and may take official notice of any matter that is within the department’s specialized knowledge. The hearing officer shall inform the parties of any matters officially noticed, and shall afford the parties an opportunity to contest any such matters.

2. B. The burden of persuasion at the hearing shall be on the state long-term care ombudsman, which must prove its case by a preponderance of the evidence unless the case involves allegations of fraud. In cases involving allegations of fraud, the state long-term care ombudsman must prove its case by clear and convincing evidence.
3. C. At the hearing, the state long-term care ombudsman shall present its evidence first. If the assessed party wishes to present evidence, it shall proceed second. Thereafter, only the state long-term care ombudsman may present rebuttal evidence. Rebuttal evidence shall be confined to the issues raised in the assessed party's presentation of evidence. Each party will be given an opportunity to offer a final oral or written argument without additional presentation of evidence.

[9.2.22.18 NMAC - N, 4/1/2004]