Code of Massachusetts Regulations
106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE
Title 106 CMR 367.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Violations Hearings And Claims
Section 367.375 - Hearing Official
Universal Citation: 106 MA Code of Regs 106.367
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(A) The person designated by the Department to preside over the hearing shall be the hearing official. The hearing official shall be an impartial party who does not have any personal stake or involvement in the case and who was not directly involved in the initial determination of the action which is being contested.
(B) The hearing official shall have the following powers and duties:
(1)
Administer Oath. The hearing official shall administer
oaths;
(2)
Ensure
Consideration of Issues. The hearing official shall ensure that
all relevant issues are considered;
(3)
Record Evidence.
The hearing official shall request, receive and make part of the record all
evidence determined necessary to decide the issues being raised;
(4)
Regulate the Conduct of the
Hearing. The hearing official shall regulate the conduct and
course of the hearing consistent with due process to ensure an orderly
hearing;
(5)
Inform
Appellants of Right to Interpreter. The hearing official shall
inform appellants who are not fluent in English of the right to a full and
accurate interpretation by their own interpreter, or by a Department-provided
interpreter. The hearing official shall conduct the bilingual hearing in
accordance with the guidelines found in the Manual for Transitional
Assistance Referees. The purpose of these guidelines is to enable
non-English speaking appellants to understand and to participate in the entire
hearing as fully as if the appellant were fluent in English. To achieve this
end, all statements made by parties present for the hearing, including
questions, answers, and comments of the appellant, hearing official, witnesses,
and any other persons participating in the hearing, shall be fully translated
into both languages without alteration of such statements, such as by changing
from the first person to the third person;
(6)
Order Medical or Professional
Evaluations. The hearing official shall order, where relevant and
useful, an independent medical assessment or professional evaluation from a
source agreed upon by the household and the Department. The Department will pay
for the medical evaluation. In any case in which the appellant hires a
signature expert and is responsible to pay a fee, the Department will pay a
reasonable fee if the appellant prevails either at the administrative hearing
or in a court appeal from the administrative hearing; and
(7)
Render a Hearing
Decision. The hearing official shall provide a record and render a
hearing decision in the name of the Department.
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