N.M. Admin. Code § 13.21.5.15 - TELEPHONIC, VIDEOCONFERENCE AND OTHER EQUIVALENT ELECTRONIC METHOD HEARINGS

A. If not otherwise prohibited by statute, rule, or court ruling, the advisory board may conduct any hearing in person or by telephone, videoconference, or other equivalent electronic method. The advisory board shall cause a stenographic or audio recording to be made of all proceedings involving the presentation of evidence, points, authorities or argument pertaining to the merits of the matter before the advisory board.

B. If the hearing is to be conducted by telephone, videoconference or other equivalent electronic method, the notice shall so inform the parties. Either party may file a written objection to conducting the hearing by telephone, videoconference, or other equivalent electronic method within 10 days of the notice of hearing. Failure to timely object to the conduct of a telephone, videoconference, or other equivalent electronic method hearing constitutes consent to the hearing proceeding in that manner and waiver of any other applicable statutory in-county hearing requirement.

C. Upon receipt of a timely objection, the advisory board shall consider the applicable legal requirements, the location of the parties and witnesses, the complexity of the particular matter, the availability of necessary electronic equipment for conduct of a full and fair hearing by telephone, videoconference, or other equivalent electronic method, and the basis of the objection in determining whether the hearing should occur at a specific location rather than via telephone, videoconference, or other equivalent electronic method.

D. Provided that the requesting party has not previously demanded an in-person hearing or otherwise objected to conducting the matter via telephone, videoconference, or other equivalent electronic methods, any party may request to appear directly or have a witness on their behalf appear via telephone, videoconference, or alternative electronic means by filing a request at least three business days before the scheduled hearing. The filing of a request to appear via telephone, videoconference, or other alternative electronic method shall be deemed as a total and complete waiver of any in-person, in-county hearing requirement and deemed as consent for all parties, all witnesses, and the advisory board to appear via telephone, videoconference, or other equivalent electronic methods.

E. All parties appearing via telephone, videoconference, or other electronic method shall provide the advisory board with a working email address or facsimile number for the exchange of all documentary evidence before or during the hearing.

F. Failure to follow the advisory board's instructions for participating in the hearing via telephone, videoconference, or other equivalent electronic method will be treated as a non-appearance at the hearing.

G. Any technical issues shall be promptly reported to the advisory board.

H. In the event that technical or other computer problems prevent a hearing by videoconference or other electronic method from occurring or otherwise interfere with maintaining or developing a complete record at the hearing, the parties agree and consent that the advisory board may continue the matter to a different time before expiration of the statutory deadline, may order the parties to appear for an in-person hearing, or may conduct the remaining portion of the hearing via telephone.

I. If the advisory board determines during the course of the hearing, either sua sponte or upon argument of a party, that an in-person hearing is necessary to adequately complete the record, address credibility issues, or is otherwise necessary to ensure a full or fair hearing process, the advisory board may recess a hearing occurring by telephone, videoconference, or other equivalent electronic method and reconvene the proceeding as an in-person hearing.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 13.21.5.15

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 23, December 14, 2021, eff. 1/1/2022