<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" citation="COMAR 31.02.01.07" title_num="31" subtitle_num="02" chapter_num="01" heading="Conduct of Hearing — In General.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Scope. This regulation applies to all hearings except a hearing on a proposed examination report.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>A hearing conducted under this chapter shall be open to the public.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Parties to Contested Case Proceeding.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The necessary parties to a contested case proceeding are:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The Administration;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A person against whom the Commissioner has:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Received an administrative complaint; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Issued a charging document, order, or notice; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A person who requests a hearing due to being aggrieved by:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A determination made by the Commissioner; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Any other act of, threatened act of, or failure to act by the Commissioner.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A person who is not a necessary party under §C(1) of this regulation, including a person who submitted an administrative complaint to the Commissioner, may become a party by intervention in accordance with Insurance Article, §2-213(c), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Election by Administration Not to Participate.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The Administration may elect not to participate in all or part of a contested case proceeding by filing a notice with the hearing officer or final decision maker at any time.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The Administration may revoke an election not to participate in all or part of a contested case proceeding by filing a notice with the hearing officer or final decision maker at any time.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>The hearing officer shall conduct the hearing and may allow the case to proceed in a manner necessary to ensure the fair resolution of the issues including, but not limited to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Placing reasonable limitations on the number of witnesses a party may call;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Excluding evidence which is repetitive, irrelevant, immaterial, or otherwise not probative; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Ruling on all procedural matters, including motions, objections, and offers of proof.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Formal rules of pleading or evidence need not be observed at a hearing under the provisions of this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Representation of the Administration.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Commissioner may designate an attorney to represent the Administration.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Once the record is closed by the hearing officer, the attorney who represented the Administration may not have a further role in the decision process of the Administration.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Motion for Summary Decision.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A party may move for summary decision on any appropriate issue in the case.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A hearing officer may grant a proposed or final summary decision if the hearing officer finds that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>There is no genuine issue of material fact; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A party is entitled to prevail as a matter of law.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>The Maryland Rules of Civil Procedure may be used as a guide for resolving issues regarding the conduct of the hearing.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>