(1) If a scheduling order is issued, the parties will be notified of the time and place of the first prehearing conference in the scheduling order. If another scheduling mechanism is issued, a prehearing conference will be held upon motion of either party, unless board policy provides otherwise.

(2) The presiding officer shall determine whether the prehearing conferences will be conducted in person or by telephone conference call.

(3) The presiding officer shall conduct the prehearing conference and shall issue rulings related to prehearing motions and evidentiary issues. The rulings must govern the conduct of subsequent proceedings.

(4) A prehearing conference may be recorded as ordered by the presiding officer. All offers of proof and objections concerning matters raised at the prehearing conference must be made on the record at the prehearing conference.

(5) Following the final prehearing conference, the presiding officer shall issue a written prehearing order which will:

(a) Identify the issues to be considered at the hearing and indicate which party has the burden of proof on these issues;

(b) Specify the facts which are admitted or not contested by the parties;

(c) Identify those documents and exhibits that will be admitted at hearing and those which may be distributed prior to hearing;

(d) Identify expert and lay witnesses that may be called at hearing and the issues to which those witnesses may testify;

(e) Rule on motions;

(f) Address such other issues or matters as may be reasonably anticipated to arise and which may aid in the disposition of the proceedings; and

(g) Rule on objections made in any preserved testimony.

(6) Following the prehearing conference, the presiding officer may issue an order directing that the matter be heard as a brief adjudicative proceeding, pursuant to WAC 246-11-420 through 246-11-450.

(7) Documentary evidence not offered in the prehearing conference will not be received into evidence at the adjudicative proceeding in the absence of a clear showing that the offering party had good cause for failing to produce the evidence at the prehearing conference.

(8) Witnesses not identified during the prehearing conference will not be allowed to testify at the adjudicative proceeding in the absence of a clear showing that the party offering the testimony of such witness had good cause for failing to identify the witness at the prehearing conference.

(9) If the authenticity of documents submitted at the prehearing conference is not challenged at the prehearing conference, the documents will be deemed authentic. However, a party will be permitted to challenge such authenticity at a later time upon a clear showing of good cause for failure to object at the prehearing conference.

(10) Nothing in these rules prohibit the presiding officer from conducting a conference at any time, including during the hearing. The presiding officer shall state on the record the results of such conference.

(11) A party bound by a stipulation or admission of record may withdraw it in whole or in part only upon a determination by the presiding officer or hearing officer that:

(a) The stipulation or admission was made inadvertently or as a bona fide mistake of fact or law; and

(b) The withdrawal will not unjustly prejudice the rights of the other parties.

(12) In an appeal to superior court involving issues addressed in the prehearing order, the record of the prehearing conference, written motions and responses, the prehearing order, and any orders issued by the presiding officer pursuant to WAC 246-11-380, are the record.