Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 80-1-1-.05 - Public Hearing

(1) Hearings described in this Rule are held for the purpose of giving the public an opportunity to voice protest of charter applications as well as merger and acquisition applications pursuant to Rule 80-6-1-.05 and are not intended to conform to hearings under the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act. Such hearing shall be a forum for the presentation of information which the Commissioner shall consider in ruling on an application.

(2) Hearings under this Rule shall be conducted in accordance with the following procedure:

(a) The presiding officer, who shall be appointed by the department in its sole discretion, will open the hearing with an explanation of the hearing procedure, identification of the parties, and statement of the application at issue.

(b) The applicant shall present a brief opening summary of the contents and purpose of the application.

(c) Following the applicant's statement, each person contesting the application shall present his or her data and material, oral or documentary. The contestants may agree, with the approval of the presiding officer, to have one of their number make their presentation.

(d) Following each contestant's presentation, the applicant shall have an opportunity to rebut, clarify or expand upon any information presented by the contestant with oral or documentary material.

(e) The applicant and contestants shall present their information in concise fashion and the presiding officer shall have the authority to limit such presentations if they are repetitive, inappropriate, or irrelevant.

(3) The Department shall have all of the testimony recorded, retain two copies of the transcript and each contestant and the applicant shall receive a copy. The contestants shall be jointly responsible for all the costs of the transcription of the testimony and for the hearing, unless an applicant requests the hearing, in which case the applicant shall bear the cost. No charge shall be assessed for the presiding officer unless the officer is not an employee of the Department, in which case the cost shall be borne as above.

(4) The obtaining and use of witnesses is the responsibility of the parties. All witnesses will appear voluntarily, but any person appearing as a witness may be subject to questioning by the presiding officer. The refusal of a witness to answer questions may be considered by the Department in determining the weight to be accorded the testimony of that witness. Witnesses shall not be sworn.

(5) Formal rules of evidence shall not be applicable to these hearings. Documentary material shall be of a size consistent with ease of handling, transportation, and filing. While large exhibits may be used during the hearing, copies of such exhibits must be provided by the party in reduced size for submission as evidence. Two copies of all such documentary evidence shall be furnished to the Department, and one copy shall be furnished to each contestant and the applicant during the hearing.

(6) The presiding officer or any person designated by the Department shall be the final judge of all procedural questions not governed by this rule. The presiding officer shall have the authority to limit the amount of time available to each party and to impose such other limitations as he or she shall deem reasonable.

(7) In preparation for a final determination on the application, the Department shall review the exhibits and the testimony as recorded, and the presiding officer shall make a recommendation of findings to the Commissioner.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 80-1-1-.05

O.C.G.A. § 7-1-61.

Original Rule entitled "Public Hearing" adopted. F. July 12, 1974; eff. August 1, 1974. Amended: F. Aug. 28, 1975; eff. Sept. 17, 1975. Amended: F. Sept. 26, 1995; eff. Oct. 16, 1995. Amended: F. July 14, 1998; eff. August 3, 1998. Amended: F. July 7, 2021; eff. July 27, 2021. Amended: F. Dec. 16, 2021; eff. Jan. 5, 2022.