§ 20. Practice before the commission; immunity of witnesses. 1. All hearings before the commission or a commissioner, or an officer or employee specially authorized to conduct an investigation or hearing, shall be governed by rules to be adopted and prescribed by the commission. And in all investigations, inquiries or hearings the commission or a commissioner, or an officer or employee specially authorized to conduct an investigation or hearing, shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence.

2. In any investigation or inquiry by or upon any hearing before the commission or any commissioner, or an officer or employee specially authorized to conduct an investigation or hearing, the commission, any commissioner or the officer conducting the investigation or hearing may confer immunity in accordance with the provisions of section 50.20 of the criminal procedure law.