Section 8 AAC 30.210 - Hearings(a) The respondent may be represented by counsel. If counsel for a party notifies the division, in writing, that counsel is appearing in the matter on behalf of the party, service of notices, memoranda, recommendations, or other papers will be considered sufficient if made on counsel.(b) The division will give notice to the respondent of the time and place of the hearing on an alleged violation of AS 36.05 by certified mail or by personal service at least 15 days before the hearing. The notice will contain a summary of investigative findings that will be considered at the hearing. Service on the address a contractor or subcontractor has provided to the division assigned occupational licensing functions in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development for the purpose of obtaining a contractor's license, or the last known address furnished by the contractor or subcontractor, shall be considered valid service.(c) The location of the hearing will be designated by the division with due regard for the convenience of all persons involved. All hearings are public.(d) The director will appoint a wage and hour investigator or contract with an attorney licensed in this state to serve as hearing officer to preside over the hearing and to make findings of fact and conclusions of law to be used as a basis for the director's decision. An investigator who has investigated the alleged violations or taken part in the informal conference under 8 AAC 30.090 will not be appointed hearing officer.(e) The hearing officer has full authority to control the procedure of the hearing and to rule on all motions and objections.(f) The hearing officer may admit any relevant evidence, regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory or court rule that might make improper the admission of such evidence over objection in civil actions, if the evidence is the sort of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs. Hearsay evidence may be used for the purpose of supplementing or explaining any direct evidence but is not sufficient in itself to support a finding unless the hearsay evidence would be admissible over objection in civil actions. The hearing officer may issue subpoenas at the request of either party or on the hearing officer's own motion.(g) Oral evidence must be given under oath or affirmation. A record of the proceedings will be kept.(h) The hearing officer, respondent, and complainant may(1) call and examine witnesses;(2) cross-examine opposing witnesses on any matter relevant to the issue at hand even though that matter was not covered in direct examination; and(i) If the respondent does not testify in the respondent's own behalf, that person may be called and examined as if under cross-examination.(j) The hearing officer may, for good cause shown, continue a hearing from day to day or recess it to a later date or to a different place by announcement at the hearing or by notice.(k) The department has the burden of proving that the alleged violations have occurred. The standard of proof required is by a preponderance of the evidence.Eff. 1/2/91, Register 116; am 8/9/2001, Register 159With Register 180, January 2007 and under the authority of AS 44.62.125, the regulations attorney changed obsolete terminology concerning the division of occupational licensing and the division of banking and securities in conformity with ch. 14, SLA 2005 and to reflect the transfer of certain corporations functions within the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.
Authority:AS 23.05.060
AS 36.05.030
AS 36.05.090