Section 53-4-005 - Hearing officer; criteria005.01. The agency is authorized by law to delegate to a hearing officer other than the agency head or governing board the functions of conducting a prehearing conference and/or a hearing and submitting a recommended decision to the agency.005.02. A person who has served as investigator, prosecutor, or advocate in a contested 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 subsection 005.04.005.03. A person who is subject to the authority, direction, or discretion of one who has served as investigator, prosecutor, or advocate in a contested 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 subsection 005.04.005.04. If all parties consent, a person who has served as, or who is subject to the authority, direction, or discretion of one who has served as investigator, prosecutor, or advocate in a contested case or in its prehearing stage may assist a hearing officer in the preparation of orders.005.05. A person who has participated in a determination of probable cause or other equivalent preliminary determination in a contested case may serve as hearing officer or assist or advise a hearing officer in the same proceeding.005.06. A person may serve as hearing officer at successive stages of the same contested case.53 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 4, § 005