The introduction and consideration of evidence during the hearing is subject to the following procedures and restrictions:

(1) Relevance: The committee chair shall review all questions for relevance and shall explain on the record their reasons for excluding any questions based on lack of relevance.

(2) Relevance means that information elicited by the question makes facts in dispute more or less likely to be true.

(3) Questions or evidence about a complainant's sexual predisposition or prior sexual behavior are not relevant and must be excluded, unless such question or evidence:

(a) Is asked or offered to prove someone other than the respondent committed the alleged harassment; or

(b) Concerns specific incidents of prior sexual behavior between the complainant and the respondent, which are asked or offered on the issue of consent.

(4) Complainant and respondent may not ask questions directly of one another. Questions may be asked through a party's advisor or by the chair, after the chair determines the question is relevant and not privileged or otherwise impermissible. The chair has discretion to follow this procedure for other witnesses, as well.

(5) No negative inference: The committee may not make an inference regarding responsibility solely on a witness's or party's absence from the hearing or refusal to answer questions.

(6) Privileged evidence: The committee shall not consider legally privileged information unless the holder has effectively waived the privilege. Privileged information includes, but is not limited to, information protected by the following:

(a) Spousal/domestic partner privilege;

(b) Attorney-client communications and attorney work product privilege;

(c) Clergy privileges;

(d) Medical or mental health providers and counselor privileges;

(e) Sexual assault and domestic violence advocate privileges; and

(f) Other legal privileges set forth in RCW 5.60.060 or federal law.