1. (1) The response, if any, shall assert any defense that the responding party, at the time of filing, believes it could rightfully assert in an answer or responsive pleading to the improper practice charge, including any affirmative defenses pursuant to section 204.3(c)(2) of this Part. The response shall not constitute an answer or responsive pleading to the improper practice charge pursuant to section 204.3 of this Part, and asserting or not asserting any affirmative defense or other defense in the response shall not prejudice any party with regard to defenses or affirmative defenses that party may plead or not plead in an answer or responsive pleading filed pursuant to that section.
2. (2) Any affirmation submitted in support of the response shall be made on the basis of personal knowledge of the relevant facts and documentary evidence attached to the affidavit. Such affirmation shall be signed and shall state “I affirm under penalties of perjury under the laws of New York, which may include a fine or imprisonment, that the foregoing is true, and I understand that this document will be filed in a proceeding before the Public Employment Relations Board.” If filed electronically, the affirmation or affirmations shall be in searchable format and shall not be scanned copies of the original documents.

3. (3) The response may be accompanied by a memorandum of law in opposition to the application for injunctive relief. If filed electronically, the memorandum of law shall be in searchable format and shall not be scanned copies of the original documents.

   (c) Accelerated response.

   Upon presentation of clear evidence of a compelling need for determination of an application for injunctive relief in fewer than 10 days from its receipt by the board, and upon a determination by the office of counsel that such compelling need exists, the office of counsel may direct that a response, if any, be filed within a specified time earlier than otherwise required by this section.

(a) Filing of response.

A party to whom an application for injunctive relief is delivered pursuant to section 204.7 of this Part may file with the office of counsel an original and two copies of a response to the application, with proof of service of a copy of the response on all parties within five days after the application was actually delivered. Alternatively, an original and one copy of a response with proof of service on all parties, may be filed with the office of counsel by either electronic mail at an electronic mail address designated by the board for that purpose, or by fax at a fax number designated by the board for that purpose within five days after delivery of the application. If the response is filed by fax, the responding party shall mail or deliver an original and two copies of the response to the office of counsel by the next working day. Unless otherwise authorized by the office of counsel, copies of the response shall be served on all other parties in the same manner in which the application is filed with the office of counsel. The response shall be signed and shall contain a signed affirmation stating, “I affirm under penalties of perjury under the laws of New York, which may include a fine or imprisonment, that the foregoing is true, and I understand that this document will be filed in a proceeding before the Public Employment Relations Board.” The response shall be deemed filed when received by the office of counsel.

(b) Contents of response.