Regulation .04 Preliminary Conference.

A preliminary conference may be held before a hearing on an action if an appellant requests the conference.

The conference is optional and does not replace the hearing process.

The conference may be attended by a representative of the Office, the appellant, and the appellant's representative.

The conference may lead to an informal resolution of the dispute. However, a hearing shall be held unless one of the parties submits a written withdrawal of the hearing request to the Office of Administrative Hearings.