10- 144 C.M.R. ch. 351, § 11-1

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

Section 144-351-11-1 - SETTING OF HEARING

A. The hearing shall be conducted privately and open only to:

1. The responsible parent, his witnesses and legal counsel or other representative selected to participate in the responsible parent's behalf at the hearing.

2. The TANF recipient or non-TANF support enforcement services client.

3. The TANF recipient or non-TANF client in the proceeding.

4. Departmental staff, representatives of the Attorney General's Department, and witnesses selected by the Division to participate in the hearing.

5. If a TANF recipient is required to appear at a hearing, he is entitled to have his own lawyer present. However, the cost of such legal representation shall be the responsibility of the recipient and not the Department.

B. A representative of the Division must be present at every hearing to represent the Division, to testify on its behalf and to be available for cross-examination.

C. The hearing shall be conducted in an informal manner but with dignity. The hearing officer shall maintain order in the hearing room.

D. The hearing will be held in a separate room free from other activities.

E.News Media Presence

1. Representatives of the news media shall be excluded from the hearing unless their presence is agreed upon in advance by both the responsible parent and the TANF recipient/client.

2. If news media representatives are permitted to be present, they shall be prohibited from taking pictures, or making any type of recording of the hearing proceedings.

10- 144 C.M.R. ch. 351, § 11-1