Section 49-2-008 - HEARING OFFICER; CRITERIA008.01 The Director may delegate to a hearing officer the functions of conducting a prehearing conference and/or a hearing and submitting a recommended decision to the Director.008.02 A person who has served as investigator, prosecutor, or advocate in an application case or in its prehearing stage may not serve as hearing officer or assist or advise a hearing officer in the same proceeding except as provided in Section 008.04 of this Rule.008.03 A person who is subject to the authority, direction, or discretion of a person who has served as investigator, prosecutor, or advocate in an application case or in its prehearing stage may not serve as hearing officer or advise a hearing officer in the same proceeding except as provided in Section 008.04 of this Rule.008.04 If all parties consent, a person who has served as, or who is subject to the authority, direction, or discretion of a person who has served as, investigator, prosecutor, or advocate in an application case or in its prehearing stage, may assist a hearing officer in the preparation of orders.008.05 A person may serve as hearing officer at successive stages of the same application case.49 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 2, § 008