A. In conducting adjudicatory proceedings, agencies shall afford all parties an opportunity for full and fair hearing. Unless otherwise provided by any law, agencies:

(1) may place on any party the responsibility of requesting a hearing if the agency notifies him in writing of his right to a hearing and of his responsibility to request the hearing;

(2) may make informal disposition of any adjudicatory proceeding by stipulation, agreed settlement, consent order or default;

(3) may limit the issues to be heard or vary the procedures prescribed by Subsection B if the parties agree to the limitation or variation;

(4) shall allow any person showing that he will be substantially and specifically affected by the proceeding to intervene as a party in the whole or any portion of the proceeding, and may allow any other interested person to participate by presentation of argument orally or in writing, or for any other limited purpose the agency may order; and

(5) shall upon demand by any party require any or all parties, including the agency involved, to advise the names of witnesses it proposes to call at any adjudicatory hearing, together with the gist of testimony or type of testimony expected to be elicited from each witness. Any party shall likewise be required upon demand to advise of and produce for examination or copying any exhibits the party anticipates using. Such demanded information shall be made available at least ten days prior to the hearing. Other discovery or pre-trial conferences and procedures available in the district courts may also be utilized upon demand by any party.

B. In adjudicatory proceedings, all parties shall be afforded an opportunity for hearing after reasonable notice. The notice shall include:

(1) a statement of the time, place and nature of the hearing;

(2) a statement of the legal authority and jurisdiction under which the hearing is to be held;

(3) a short and plain statement of the matters of fact and law asserted so that all have sufficient notice of the issues involved to afford them reasonable opportunity to prepare. If the issues cannot be fully stated in advance of the hearing, they shall be fully stated as soon as practicable. In all cases of delayed statement, or where subsequent amendment of the issues is necessary, sufficient time shall be allowed after full statement or amendment to afford all parties reasonable opportunity to prepare; and

(4) in instances in which private parties are the moving parties, other parties to the proceedings shall give prompt notice of issues controverted in fact or law, and in other instances, agencies may by rule require responsive pleadings by the parties.

C. Opportunity shall be afforded all parties to respond and present evidence and argument on all issues involved.

D. The record in adjudicatory proceedings shall include:

(1) all pleadings, motions and intermediate rulings;

(2) evidence received or considered;

(3) a statement of matters officially noticed;

(4) questions and offers of proof, objections and rulings thereon;

(5) proposed findings and conclusions; and

(6) any decision, opinion or report by the agency conducting the hearing.

E. The agency need not arrange to transcribe notes or sound recordings unless requested by a party. The cost of the transcript to parties shall not exceed the cost provided by law chargeable by official court reporters.

F. Findings of fact shall be based exclusively on the evidence presented and on matters officially noticed.

History: 1953 Comp., § 4-32-10, enacted by Laws 1969, ch. 252, § 10.

Sound recordings. — Sound recordings are apparently acceptable under Administrative Procedures Act, 12-8-1 NMSA 1978 et seq. State Dep't of Motor Vehicles v. Gober, 1973-NMSC-082, 85 N.M. 457, 513 P.2d 391.

Law reviews. — For article, "How to Stand Still Without Really Trying: A Critique of the New Mexico Administrative Procedures Act," see 10 Nat. Resources J. 840 (1970).

For note, "On Building Better Laws for New Mexico's Environment," see 4 N.M. L. Rev. 105 (1973).

For article, "Survey of New Mexico Law, 1979-80: Administrative Law," see 11 N.M. L. Rev. 1 (1981).

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 2 Am. Jur. 2d Administrative Law § 261 et seq.

Right to statement of reasons, under Administrative Procedure Act (5 USCS § 555(e)), for denial of written application, petition, or other request of interested person made in connection with agency proceeding, 57 A.L.R. Fed. 765.

73A C.J.S. Public Administrative Law and Procedure §§ 115 to 171.