[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 45, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 45CFR1210.3-7]

[Page 35-36]
 
                        TITLE 45--PUBLIC WELFARE
 
       CHAPTER XII--CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
 
PART 1210--VISTA TRAINEE DESELECTION AND VOLUNTEER EARLY TERMINATION PROCEDURES--Table of Contents
 
              Subpart C--VISTA Volunteer Early Termination
 
Sec. 1210.3-7  Inquiry by Hearing Examiner.

    (a) Scope of Inquiry. (1) The Examiner shall conduct an inquiry of a 
nature and scope appropriate to the issues involved in the termination. 
If the Examiner determines that the termination involves relevant 
disputed issues of fact, the Examiner must hold a hearing unless it is 
waived by the Volunteer. If the Examiner determines that the termination 
does not involve relevant disputed issues of facts, the Examiner need 
not hold a hearing, but must provide the parties an opportunity for oral 
presentation of their respective positions. At the Examiner's 
discretion, the inquiry may include:
    (i) The securing of documentary evidence;
    (ii) Personal interviews, including telephone interviews;
    (iii) Group meetings; or
    (iv) Affidavits, written interrogatories or depositions.
    (2) The Examiner's inquiry shall commence within 7 days after 
referral by the Regional Director. The Examiner shall issue a report as 
soon as possible, but within 30 days after referral, except when a 
hearing is held. If hearing is held, the Examiner shall issue a report 
within 45 days after the referral.
    (b) Conduct of Hearing. If a hearing is held, the conduct of the 
hearing and production of witnesses shall conform with the following 
requirements:
    (1) The hearing shall be held at a time and place determined by the 
Examiner who shall consider the convenience of parties and witnesses and 
expense to the Government in making the decision.
    (2) Ordinarily, attendance at the hearing will be limited to persons 
determined by the Examiner to have a direct connection with it. If 
requested by the Volunteer, the Examiner must open the hearing to the 
public.
    (3) The hearing shall be conducted so as to bring out pertinent 
facts, including the production of pertinent records.
    (4) Rules of evidence shall not be applied strictly, but the 
Examiner may exclude irrelevant or unduly repetitious testimony or 
evidence.
    (5) Decisions on the admissibility of evidence or testimony shall be 
made by the Examiner.

[[Page 36]]

    (6) Testimony shall be under oath or affirmation, administered by 
the Examiner.
    (7) The Examiner shall give the parties an opportunity to present 
oral and written testimony that is relevant and material, and to cross-
examine witnesses who appear to testify.
    (8) The Examiner may exclude any person from the hearing for conduct 
that obstructs the hearing.
    (c) Witnesses. (1) All parties are entitled to produce witnesses.
    (2) Volunteers, employees of a sponsor, and employees of ACTION 
shall be made available as witnesses when requested by the Examiner. The 
Examiner may request witnesses on his or her own initiative. Parties 
shall furnish to the Examiner and to opposing parties a list of proposed 
witnesses, and an explanation of what the testimony of each is expected 
to show, at least 10 days before the date of the hearing. The Examiner 
may waive the time limit in appropriate circumstances.
    (3) Employees of ACTION shall remain in a duty status during the 
time they are made available as witnesses.
    (4) Volunteers, employees and any other persons who serve as 
witnesses shall be free from coercion, discrimination, or reprisal for 
presenting their testimony.
    (5) The Examiner must authorize payment of travel expense and per 
diem at standard Government rates for the Volunteer and a representative 
to attend the hearing.
    (6) The Examiner may authorize payment of travel expense and per 
diem at standard Government rates for other necessary witnesses to 
attend the hearing if he or she determines that the required testimony 
cannot be satisfactorily obtained by affidavit, written interrogatories 
or deposition at less cost.
    (d) Report of Hearing. (1) The Examiner shall determine how any 
hearing shall be reported and shall have either a verbatim transcript or 
written summary of the hearing prepared, which shall include all 
pertinent documents and exhibits submitted and accepted. If the hearing 
is reported verbatim, the Examiner shall make the transcript a part of 
the record of the proceedings.
    (2) If the hearing is not reported verbatim, a suitable summary of 
pertinent portions of the testimony shall be made part of the record of 
proceedings. When agreed to in writing, the summary constitutes the 
report of the hearing. If the Examiner and the parties fail to agree on 
the hearing summary, the parties are entitled to submit written 
exceptions to any part of the summary, and these written exceptions and 
the summary will constitute the report of the hearing and shall be made 
part of the record of proceedings.
    (3) The Volunteer may make a recording of the hearing at the 
Volunteer's own expense if no verbatim transcript is made.