(1) The POST Council chair, the director, or the director's designee may appoint a hearing examiner to conduct a hearing in a contested case, as allowed by 2-4-611, MCA.

(2) A hearing examiner appointed under 2-4-611, MCA and this rule may:

(a) administer oaths or affirmations;

(b) issue subpoenas;

(c) provide for the taking of testimony and depositions;

(d) set the time and place for hearing;

(e) set motion and briefing schedules that comport with the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure and the Montana Uniform District Court Rules for filing, service, deadlines, and time calculation;

(f) by mutual consent of the parties, hold conferences to consider narrowing or simplifying the issues;

(g) rule on summary judgment motions, motions in limine, and other motions and, if motions are dispositive, make recommendations to the POST Council as if a hearing on the merits had occurred;

(h) allow, disallow, or limit expert testimony;

(i) recommend to the council dismissal of the case based on M.R.Civ.P. 41, default, or other reason;

(j) provide for and conduct the MAPA contested case process as a matter of discretion, within the bounds of the applicable law.

(3) If a hearing examiner is appointed in a contested case proceeding, notice must be provided to the public safety officer with the notice of agency action or immediately after the officer requests a hearing pursuant to 44-4-403, MCA.

(4) Pursuant to 2-4-611, MCA, the POST Council may disqualify a hearing examiner if a party shows by affidavit the existence of personal bias, lack of independence, disqualification by law, or other ground for disqualification.

(5) If a hearing examiner is disqualified or recuses himself or herself for good cause, the director, the director's designee, or the POST Council chair may appoint a replacement.

(6) For guidance on the POST Council's past actions on cases and penalties imposed, a hearing examiner may inspect POST's integrity report, available on POST's web site or from POST staff, and may examine any POST file not containing privileged, ex parte, or other protected or constitutionally private material.