Senate Bill 1274 Summary

• Creates the Office of Administrative Hearings in the department of self-governing agencies to conduct contested case proceedings and other adjudicatory hearings for state agencies.

• Establishes the position of Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate for a four-year term, requiring at least five years of law license or judicial service and active Idaho bar membership.

• Prohibits parties from seeking disqualification of hearing officers without cause when decisions must be rendered within 14 weeks or when the presiding officer is a hearing officer under the new office.

• Creates a nine-member advisory council to make recommendations on office operations, rules, hearing officer training, and other matters, with representation from legislature, attorney general, agencies, and public members.

• Establishes that the office shall not begin conducting contested cases until January 1, 2021, with existing proceedings to continue under prior law unless hearings did not commence before that date.