(1) Hearings on all matters to be heard by the commission shall be held within the boundaries of the designated groundwater basin and within the ground water management district, if one exists, in which the water rights directly involved are situated or at such other place as may be designated by the commission for the convenience of, and as agreed to by, the parties involved. The hearings shall be conducted before the commission under reasonable rules and regulations of procedure prescribed by it. All parties to the hearing, including the commission, have the right to subpoena witnesses, who shall be sworn by the chairman or acting chairman of the commission to testify under oath at the hearing. All parties to the hearing shall be entitled to be heard either in person or by attorney.

(2) In any hearings required to be conducted by the commission, it may, in its discretion, have such hearings conducted before such agent as it may designate, either alone or in conjunction with the appearance of the commission if the agent is technically qualified to conduct or assist in such hearings. Unless agreed otherwise by all parties to a hearing or unless ordered otherwise by the commission due to extenuating circumstances, a hearing pursuant to this section shall be held within one hundred eighty days after the filing of a request for such a hearing. Appeals of rulings of the agent designated by the commission shall be reviewed at any regular or special commission meeting at the location chosen by the commission for that meeting.

(3) At any hearing or proceedings conducted or authorized by the commission affecting any water rights, either existing or potential, within any ground water management district, the commission shall receive and fully consider the testimony and recommendations of the board of directors or authorized agents of said district, if such testimony and recommendations are offered on behalf of the affected district.

(4) In addition to any authority established by rule by the commission for commission matters to be referred to alternative dispute resolution, the commission or an agent designated by the commission pursuant to subsection (2) of this section may refer a matter before the commission to alternative dispute resolution pursuant to section 13-22-313.