1. (a) The hearing officer may, at the beginning of any proceeding and during the course of that proceeding, establish rules of decorum to be followed during the proceeding. The hearing officer may also establish times for beginning the proceeding, for recesses, and for ending the proceeding.
2. (b) Parties and participants in a proceeding shall conduct themselves with dignity, shall show courtesy and respect for one another and for the hearing officer, shall follow the decorum prescribed by the hearing officer at the proceeding, and shall adhere to the beginning times of the proceeding, and to the times established for each recess and for ending the proceeding.

3. (c) To maintain and enforce proper conduct and decorum at a proceeding, and to enforce promptness at a proceeding, the hearing officer may take appropriate action, including but not limited to:

   1. (1) issuing a warning;
   2. (2) excluding any person from the proceeding; and
   3. (3) recessing the proceeding.

Source Note:The provisions of this §148.16 adopted to be effective December 4, 1995, 20 TexReg 9706.