Section 17-602.1-45 - Consolidated hearings(a) The hearing officer may respond to a series of individual requests for hearings by conducting a single group hearing. The hearing officer may consolidate cases where individual issues of fact are not disputed and where related issues of state law, federal law, or both, are the sole issues being raised. In all group hearings, the rules governing individual hearings shall be followed. Each individual household shall be permitted to present its own case or shall have the case presented by a representative.(b) A hearing and an administrative disqualification hearing may be combined into a single hearing if the factual issues arise out of the same, or related circumstances and the household receives prior notice that the hearings will be combined. If the hearing and administrative disqualification hearing are combined, the timeliness standards for conducting administrative disqualification hearings shall be followed. (1) If the hearings are combined for the purpose of settling the amount of the claim at the same time as determining whether or not intentional program violation has occurred, the household shall lose its right to a subsequent hearing on the amount of the claim.(2) The department, upon request of the household, shall allow the household to waive the thirty day advance notice period required for disqualification hearings when the disqualification hearing and hearing are combined.(c) If a hearing is requested by a household because of a reduction or termination of both financial assistance payment and food stamp benefit, the hearing shall be conducted according to the financial assistance procedures and timeliness standards.Haw. Code R. § 17-602.1-45
[Eff 3/19/93; comp 9/18/06] (Auth: HRS § 346-14) (Imp: 7 C.F.R. §§273.12(f) (4), 273.15(e), 273.16(e)(1) )