Now that I am scheduled for a hearing, what happens?

After the request is received, the Department will schedule a pre-hearing and hearing before a hearings officer. The hearing officer, on behalf of the Board, conducts both the pre-hearing and hearing. The hearing officer's role is to act as a fact finder and, after the hearing, to submit his/her recommendation to the State Board. The State Board, at its next scheduled meeting, offers both parties in the dispute 10 minutes oral argument during which to present their case to the Board. After the parties' presentation, the Board will decide whether or not to follow the hearing officer's recommendation.