[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 6]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR400.132]

[Page 26]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
     CHAPTER IV--FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE CORPORATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                               AGRICULTURE
 
PART 400--GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS--Table of Contents
 
Subpart K--Debt Management--Regulations for the 1986 and Succeeding Crop 
                                  Years
 
Sec. 400.132  Hearings.

    (a) If an employee timely files a petition for a hearing, the FCIC 
Official will select the date, time, and location for the hearing.
    (b) The hearing shall be conducted by an appropriately designated 
Hearing Official.
    (c) Rules of evidence shall not be observed, but the hearing officer 
will consider all evidence that he or she determines to be relevant to 
the debt that is the subject of the hearing, and weigh all such evidence 
accordingly, given all the facts and circumstances surrounding the debt.
    (d) The burden of proof with respect to the existence of the debt 
rests with FCIC.
    (e) The employee requesting the hearing shall bear the ultimate 
burden of proof.
    (f) The evidence presented by the employee must prove that no debt 
exists, or cast sufficient doubt such that reasonable minds could differ 
as to the existence of the debt.

[53 FR 5, Jan. 4, 1988, and 53 FR 10527, Apr. 1, 1988]