(a) The hearing shall be taped or stenotyped, and the presiding official shall prepare a report for consideration of the agency or shall issue the decision in writing if he has been given the authority to do so.
(b) The official who presides [over] the hearing within a relatively informal pattern shall give all the parties the necessary time for a complete statement of all the facts and questions in dispute, the opportunity to answer, introduce evidence and argue, to cross-examine, and submit refuting evidence, except as it may be restricted or limited by the stipulations in the pre-hearing conference.
(c) The presiding official may exclude such evidence that is not pertinent, immaterial, repetitive or not admissible on constitutional or legal grounds based on evidentiary privileges recognized by the courts of Puerto Rico.
(d) The presiding official may take official cognizance of all which may be subject to judicial knowledge in the courts of justice.
(e) The Rules of Evidence shall not apply to administrative hearings, but the basic principles of evidence may be used to achieve a speedy, fair and economical solution of the procedure.
(f) The presiding official may grant the parties a term of fifteen (15) days after the conclusion of the hearing to present proposals on findings of facts and conclusions of law. The parties may voluntarily waive the statement of the findings of facts.
(g) Every case submitted to an adjudicatory procedure before an agency shall be resolved within a term of six (6) months from its date of filing, except in exceptional circumstances.
History —Aug. 12, 1988, No. 170, § 3.13, eff. 6 months after Aug. 12, 1988.