New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 19 - DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Chapter XX - Commission on ethics and lobbying in Government
Part 941 - Adjudicatory Proceedings and Appeals Procedure
Section 941.12 - Evidence and proof

(a) The formal rules of evidence do not apply with respect to any hearings under the Commission's jurisdiction. Objections to evidentiary offers may be made and shall be a part of the record. Subject to these rules, any party may, for the purpose of expediting the hearing, and when the interests of the parties will not be substantially prejudiced thereby, submit all or part of the evidence in written form.

(b) The introduction of cumulative or irrelevant evidence shall be avoided and the hearing officer may curtail the testimony of any witness which he or she judges to be merely cumulative or irrelevant; however, the party offering such testimony may make a short avowal of the testimony which would be given and if the witness asserts that such avowal is true, this avowal shall be made part of the record.

(c) All evidence appearing in the record shall be deemed to have been validly introduced.

(d) The burden of proof shall be on the Commission unless otherwise provided by statute.

(e) Each party shall have the right to give sworn testimony, to produce witnesses, to present documentary evidence and to examine opposing witnesses and evidence.

(f) The parties may, by agreement, stipulate as to any facts involved in the proceeding, provided that such stipulation is duly noted in the record.

(g) Official notice may be taken of all facts of which judicial notice could be taken and of other facts within the specialized knowledge of the Commission. When official notice is taken, every party shall be given notice thereof and shall on timely request be afforded an opportunity prior to decision to dispute the fact or its materiality.