Sec. 5. (a) The department, any member of the department or any authorized representative of the department, may compel the attendance of witnesses, swear witnesses, take their testimony under oath, make record of the testimony, and after the record is made under the direction of a department, administrative law judge, or authorized representative of the department or the department may upon the record make an appropriate order.

     (b) The department may hear all petitions, applications, or motions filed with the department. Hearings may be conducted by the department, by any member of the department, or by any administrative law judge authorized by the department. In case the hearing is conducted by an administrative law judge, the administrative law judge must promptly, but not later than thirty (30) days after the conclusion of the hearing, unless the time is extended by order of the department:

(1) report to the department the facts established by the evidence; and

(2) submit a suggested order, showing the findings and a decision in the order, to the department.

     (c) Orders recommended by an administrative law judge must be held for not less than ten (10) days during which time interested parties may file written exceptions to the orders. In case no exceptions are filed, the finding of facts and decision in form of order suggested by the administrative law judge constitute the order of the department, unless the department directs otherwise.

As added by P.L.99-1989, SEC.13.