1. (a) The Commissioners may designate one or more commissioners to act as motions commissioner.
2. (b) The Commission may designate one or more full-time employes, who also function as permanent hearing examiners, to act as motions examiners.

3. (c) The motions commissioner or motions examiner designated by the Commissioners have the authority:

   1. (1) To rule upon all motions or objections, except that a ruling on a motion or objection which would constitute a final determination of the proceedings will be ruled upon by the Commissioners.
   2. (2) To issue orders as provided in Subchapter E (relating to discovery during investigation and in preparation for public hearing) and in § 42.34 (relating to motions).
   3. (3) To authorize a preliminary hearing to expedite or facilitate a ruling on a matter before the motions commissioner or motions examiner, whenever a hearing is deemed necessary or appropriate.
4. (d) A motion, objection or request for discovery filed subsequent to the designation of hearing commissioners, a permanent hearing examiner or a preliminary hearing officer under § 42.101 (relating to hearings), or of a preliminary hearing officer under § 42.64(a) (relating to preliminary hearing officer), will be referred to the Commission, examiner or officer for a ruling thereon, except that a ruling or order which would constitute a final determination of the proceedings will be ruled upon by the Commissioners.
5. (e) A ruling or other order issued by a motions commissioner, motions examiner, hearing commissioner, permanent hearing examiner or preliminary hearing officer under the authority of this section will be a ruling of the Commission for all purposes.

Source

The provisions of § 42.131 adopted August 13, 1976, effective August 14, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 1887; amended October 28, 1983, effective October 29, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 3283; amended April 19, 1991, effective April 20, 1991, 21 Pa.B. 1909. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (84201).

Cross References

This section cited in 16 Pa. Code § 42.103 (relating to subpoena for a hearing upon the merits).