(a) The Chair of the Board of Liquor and Lottery may appoint a hearing officer to conduct hearings pursuant to section 210 of this title. A hearing officer may be a member of the Board appointed under section 210 of this title.

(b) The hearing officer may administer oaths in all cases, so far as the exercise of that power is properly incidental to the performance of the hearing officer's duty or that of the Board. A hearing officer may hold any hearing in any matter within the jurisdiction of the Board.

(c) The hearing officer shall make findings of fact in writing to the Board in the form of a proposal for decision. A copy of the proposal for decision shall be served upon the parties pursuant to 3 V.S.A. § 812. Judgment on the hearing officer's proposal for decision shall be rendered by a majority of the Board.

(d) At least 10 days prior to a hearing, the hearing officer shall give written notice of the time and place of the hearing to all parties in the case and shall indicate either that the hearing will be before the Board or the name and title of the person designated to conduct the hearing.

(e) The Chair may appoint a hearing officer to hear and finally determine any complaint involving a tobacco license. In such a case, the hearing officer may impose administrative penalties as provided in subsection 210(b) of this title. (Added 1997, No. 58, § 8; amended 2017, No. 83, § 30; 2018, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 33.)