A.  A hearing officer for an adjudicatory hearing shall:

(1)  Have a general knowledge of the contaminants, wastes, and other materials whose interactions with the environment are regulated by this Subtitle.

(2)  Have a general knowledge of the provisions of this Subtitle and of the rules issued under this Subtitle.

(3)  Be licensed and admitted to practice law by the Supreme Court of the state of Louisiana and have been actively engaged in the practice of law in this state for a minimum of five years.

(4)  Hold no public office of or employment by the state or any political subdivision of the state, or any local governmental entity, except an institution of higher education.

B.  A hearing officer shall comply with the Code of Governmental Ethics.  The secretary may prescribe provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct or other relevant ethical standards that apply to hearing officers.

C.  The secretary shall adopt rules supplementary to the rules of the State Civil Service Commission to instill public confidence that the department‘s administrative direction regarding matters such as appointment, classification, promotion, pay, tenure, discipline, removal, hours of duty, travel, parking space, office space and equipment, office procedures, staff assistance, organizational structure, and performance evaluation is not used to influence the decision or recommendation of a hearing officer.

Acts 1995, No. 947, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1996.