New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 8 - EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Chapter II - Regulations of the Commissioner
Subchapter C - Teacher
Part 82 - Hearings Of Charges Against Employees On Tenure
Subpart 82-1 - PROCEDURES FOR HEARINGS COMMENCED BY THE FILING OF CHARGES ON OR AFTER AUGUST 25, 1994 AND PRIOR TO JULY 1, 2015
Section 82-1.10 - Conduct of hearings

(a) Cine photographs, still photographs, videotape recordings and audiotape recordings may not be taken at private hearings, and may be taken at public hearings only when permitted by the hearing officer.

(b) Public hearings shall be open to members of the public and to representatives of the news media, except that the hearing officer may, in his or her discretion, exclude any persons other than parties, witnesses, and their attorneys from all or any portion of the hearing where such exclusion is warranted for the protection of the privacy or reputation of any person under the age of 18 years.

(c) The hearing officer shall have the power to consolidate with the pending charges amended or additional charges against an employee as to which the board has found that probable cause exists no later than five days before the date of the prehearing conference, provided that the employee may file a waiver of the right to a hearing on such amended or additional charges with the hearing officer and provided further that charges involving pedagogical incompetence or issues involving pedagogical judgment may not be consolidated with pending charges unless the employee has previously exercised his or her right to choose between a single hearing officer and hearing panel in the request for a hearing.

(d) If the hearing officer determines that the absence of a hearing panel member is likely to delay unduly the prosecution of the hearing, he or she shall order the replacement of such panel member. If the party who selected such panel member fails to select a replacement within two business days, the commissioner shall select such replacement. If the hearing officer needs to be replaced and the parties fail to notify the commissioner of their mutually agreed upon replacement within two business days, the commissioner shall select the replacement. In no event shall a panel hearing proceed except in the presence of two panel members and the hearing officer.

(e) Members of the hearing panel may question witnesses and parties, subject to the right of the hearing officer to disallow such questions if he or she deems them improper. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no questions may be addressed to the employee unless he or she has been sworn as a witness with his or her own consent.

(f) All evidence shall be submitted by all parties within 125 days of the filing of charges and no additional evidence shall be accepted after such time, absent extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the parties.

(g) The hearing officer shall have the power to regulate the course of the hearing, set the time and place for continued hearings, and direct the parties to appear, so that no party is unduly prejudiced by the prohibition on the submission of evidence after 125 days.

(h) At the conclusion of the testimony, the hearing officer may adjourn the hearing to a specified date after conclusion of the testimony, to permit preparation of the record, submission by the parties of memoranda of law, and deliberation; provided that such specified date may not be more than 60 days after the prehearing conference unless the hearing officer determines that extraordinary circumstances warrant a later date. Upon request, the hearing officer shall arrange for the preparation and delivery of one copy of the record of the hearing to each panel member, to the employee and the board.

(i) The hearing officer or hearing panel shall render a written decision within 30 days of the last day of the final hearing, or within 10 days of the last day of an expedited hearing and shall forthwith forward a copy to the commissioner, in a manner prescribed by the commissioner, who shall send copies to the parties and/or their designated attorneys. Such written decision shall include the hearing officer's findings of fact on each charge, his or her conclusions with regard to each charge based on such findings and shall state the penalty or other action, if any, which shall be taken by the board, provided that such findings, conclusions and penalty determination shall be based solely upon the record in the proceedings before the hearing officer or panel, and shall set forth the reasons and the factual basis for the determination.