Section 23.04 - Scheduling of Arbitration Hearing by the Department; Continuances(1)Scheduling. Upon receipt of the petition, the Department shall serve upon each of the parties a written notice of the date and time of the hearing to be held at the offices of the Department. The notice shall be given reasonably in advance of the hearing. The Department shall make every effort to hold the hearing promptly after it receives the petition.(2)Continuances. Where both parties request a continuance of the hearing to another time and date, the Department shall generally accept such requests. If one party requests a continuance of the hearing, the Department may for good cause shown and, where possible, after consultation with the other party, continue the hearing to another time and date, set at the discretion of the arbitrator or, if an arbitrator has not been appointed, the Director. Notice of a new hearing date and time shall be given in accordance with the provisions of 456 CMR 23.04(1).Amended by Mass Register Issue 1322, eff. 9/23/2016.