Rule 1513-3-18 | Reports and recommendations of the hearing officer.
(A) Unless otherwise directed by the commission, where a hearing officer has conducted an adjudicatory hearing, the hearing officer shall submit a report and recommendation to the commission in accordance with the provisions of section 1513.131 of the Revised Code.
(B) After an action is commenced, or as part of a notice of appeal, any full party to an appeal may make a written motion requesting that its hearing be conducted before the commission, rather than before a hearing officer.
(C) The hearing officer shall submit reports and recommendations to the commission on any interlocutory rulings which fully adjudicate the issues of the appeal.
(D) Reports and recommendations of hearing officers shall be submitted to the commission within a time reasonably sufficient to allow the commission to issue its orders within any time limits imposed by law. However, in the event that a decision must be rendered within a specified time period, the appeal will be heard by the commission rather than by a hearing officer, unless there has been a waiver of the right to an expedited hearing.
(E) Reports and recommendations of the hearing officers shall be sent to the parties by certified mail.
(F) A party may, within fourteen days after receipt of a report and recommendation of the hearing officer, serve and file written objections to the hearing officer's report, which objections may include a motion for admission of additional evidence. Objections shall be specific and state with particularity the grounds therefor.
(G) Any party may within fourteen days after receipt of objections to the report and recommendation of the hearing officer, file a response.
(H) The commission may order oral argument upon objections to a report and recommendation of the hearing officer.
Supplemental Information