Pennsylvania Code
Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Part VIII - Bureau of Workers' Compensation
Chapter 125 - WORKERS' COMPENSATION SELF-INSURANCE
Subchapter B - GROUP SELF-INSURANCE
Section 125.154 - Hearings

(a) The Director of the Bureau will assign appeals to decisions or orders issued under this subchapter and Article VIII of the act (77 P.S §§ 1036.1- 1036.18) to a hearing officer who will schedule a de novo hearing on the appeal from the initial decision or order. The applicant or the fund will receive reasonable notice of the hearing date, time and place.

(b) The hearing will be conducted in a manner to provide the applicant or the fund and the Bureau the opportunity to be heard. The hearing officer will not be bound by strict rules of evidence. Relevant evidence of reasonably probative value may be received into evidence. Reasonable examination and cross-examination of witnesses will be permitted.

(c) Testimony will be recorded and a full record kept of the proceeding. The Bureau and the applicant or the fund will be provided the opportunity to submit briefs addressing issues raised.

(d) Following the close of the record, the hearing officer will promptly issue a written decision and order. The decision and order will include relevant findings and conclusions, and state the rationale of the decision. The decision will be served upon the applicant or the fund, the Bureau and counsel of record.

(e) An applicant, fund or the Bureau, aggrieved by a decision rendered under subsection (d), may appeal the decision to Commonwealth Court.