1-26D-1      Creation of Office of Hearing Examiners.
1-26D-2      Appointment of chief hearing examiner.
1-26D-3      Appointment of hearing examiners.
1-26D-4      Powers of hearing examiners.
1-26D-5      Adoption of rules for operation and procedure--Specific rules for Digital Dakota Network.
1-26D-6      Proposed findings, conclusions, and decision--Agency action--Appeal.
1-26D-7      Rules on finality of decision--Notice.
1-26D-8      Review of proposed findings or decision--Written reasons for rejecting or modifying findings or decision.
1-26D-9      Final decision--Remand.
1-26D-10      Request for appointment of another hearing examiner in contested cases.
1-26D-11      Contract with agencies for hearings on case-by-case basis--Power of hearing examiner--Billing for services rendered.
1-26D-12      Validity of prior rules, actions, decisions or proceedings unaffected

1-26D-1. Creation of Office of Hearing Examiners.

The State Office of Hearing Examiners is hereby created and is attached to the Bureau of Human Resources and Administration for reporting and budgetary purposes. The office shall conduct hearings with the greatest degree of informality consistent with fairness and the nature of the proceeding before it. In those instances where a more formal proceeding is required, the hearing examiner may apply hearing procedures as set forth in the South Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure chapter 15-6.

Source: SL 1995, ch 8, § 2; SL 2024, ch 1 (Ex. Ord. 24-1), § 34, eff. Apr. 8, 2024.

1-26D-2. Appointment of chief hearing examiner.

The Governor shall appoint a chief hearing examiner. The person appointed shall, as a condition of appointment, be admitted to practice law in the State of South Dakota.

Source: SL 1995, ch 8, § 3

1-26D-3. Appointment of hearing examiners.

The chief hearing examiner may appoint such other hearing examiners and other staff as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and may contract with qualified persons to serve as hearing examiners for specific cases.

Source: SL 1995, ch 8, § 4

1-26D-4. Powers of hearing examiners.

Hearing examiners have all powers delineated in §§ 1-26-19.1 and 1-26-19.2 and shall hear all contested cases that arise under Titles 10 and 58 and chapter 1-27.

Source: SL 1995, ch 8, § 5; SL 2008, ch 14, § 1.

1-26D-5. Adoption of rules for operation and procedure--Specific rules for Digital Dakota Network.

The chief hearing examiner shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 for the operation of the Office of Hearing Examiners and for the procedures to be used with regard to hearing contested cases and may specifically adopt rules pertaining to the use of the Digital Dakota Network.

Source: SL 1995, ch 8, § 6; SL 2005, ch 16, § 2.

1-26D-6. Proposed findings, conclusions, and decision--Agency action--Appeal.

The hearing examiner, after hearing the evidence in the matter, shall make proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, and a proposed decision. The agency may accept, reject, or modify those findings, conclusions, and decisions, and an appeal may be taken therefrom pursuant to chapter 1-26.

Source: SL 1995, ch 8, § 7

1-26D-7. Rules on finality of decision--Notice.

An agency may provide by rule that proposed decisions in all or in specified classes of cases before that agency, or by order in individual cases, will become final without further agency action unless, within a specified time, the agency determines that the proposed decision should be reviewed or a party to the proceeding files a petition for administrative review of the proposed order. Upon occurrence of either event, notice shall be given to all parties to the proceeding.

Source: SL 1995, ch 8, § 9A

1-26D-8. Review of proposed findings or decision--Written reasons for rejecting or modifying findings or decision.

The reviewing agency shall personally consider the whole record or such portions of it as may be cited by the parties. If the reviewing agency rejects or modifies proposed findings or a proposed decision, it shall give reasons for doing so in writing. In reviewing proposed findings of fact entered by the presiding hearing examiner, the reviewing agency shall give due regard to the hearing examiner's opportunity to observe the witnesses.

Source: SL 1995, ch 8, § 9B

1-26D-9. Final decision--Remand.

The reviewing agency shall enter a final decision disposing of the proceeding or shall remand the matter for further proceedings with instructions to the hearing examiner who entered the initial decision. Upon remanding a matter, the reviewing agency may order such temporary relief as is authorized and appropriate. A final decision shall include, or incorporate by reference to the initial decision, all matters required by § 1-26-25.

Source: SL 1995, ch 8, § 10

1-26D-10. Request for appointment of another hearing examiner in contested cases.

Within ten days after written notification to the parties of the appointment of a hearing examiner in any contested case, any party to that contested case may file an affidavit requesting the appointment of another hearing examiner. The chief hearing examiner shall then appoint another hearing examiner to hear that contested case. Each party may file only one such affidavit in any contested case.

Source: SL 1995, ch 8, § 11; SL 1999, ch 9, § 1; SL 2003, ch 18, § 2

1-26D-11. Contract with agencies for hearings on case-by-case basis--Power of hearing examiner--Billing for services rendered.

Any agency not covered by this chapter may contract with the Office of Hearing Examiners or any other person to conduct hearings on a case-by-case basis and the power to contract with the office is specifically granted. At the option of the contracting agency, the hearing examiner may exercise the powers granted in chapter 1-26 and in § 1-26D-6, or the hearing examiner may be hired and have the limited power to conduct the contested case, rule on procedural, evidentiary, and other motions raised by the parties, and provide legal assistance to the contracting agency. The Office of Hearing Examiners may bill the contracting agency for services rendered pursuant to such contracts.

Source: SL 1995, ch 8, § 12

1-26D-12. Validity of prior rules, actions, decisions or proceedings unaffected.

The creation of the Office of Hearing Examiners does not affect the validity of any rule, action, decision, or proceedings held or promulgated by any agency before July 1, 1995.

Source: SL 1995, ch 8, § 16