Section 201.11. Proposed opinion and recommendation

(a) Unless otherwise ordered by the Board, the hearing examiner will file a proposed opinion and recommendation to the Board in cases when an administrative hearing has been held before a hearing examiner. The contents of the proposed opinion and recommendation will be in accordance with 1 Pa. Code § 35.205 (relating to contents of proposed reports) and will also include a discussion of the matter. The proposed opinion and recommendation will not become the opinion and order of the Board unless it is adopted by the Board.

(b) The proposed opinion and recommendation shall be filed with the System, together with the transcript of testimony, exhibits and briefs, all of which shall become part of the record. At the same time the proposed opinion and recommendation is filed with the System, the hearing examiner will serve copies upon all parties and staff counsel.

(c) The Board may adopt or reject, in whole or in part, or supplement the proposed opinion and recommendation or issue its own opinion and order, whether or not exceptions to the proposed opinion and recommendation are filed by any party. When exceptions are filed, the Board will rule on the exceptions.

(d) Any party may file exceptions in accordance with 1 Pa. Code § § 35.211 and 35.212 (relating to procedure to except to proposed report; and content and form of briefs on exceptions).

(e) This section supplements 1 Pa. Code § § 35.202, 35.207 and 35.226(a)(2) (relating to proceedings in which proposed reports are prepared; service of proposed reports; and relating to final orders).