[§398-24]  Appeal and hearing.  (a) Upon appeal by the employer, the order issued by the department shall besubject to a de novo review by a hearings officer appointed by the director.

(b)  The hearings officer shall schedule acontested case hearing that shall be heard in accordance with chapter 91.

(c)  At any time after the filing of an appealunder subsection (a), but prior to the hearing, the hearings officer may hold aprehearing conference with the parties or their representatives.

(d)  If a hearing is held as provided undersubsection (b), the hearings officer shall issue a decision and grant relief asprovided under this chapter.

(e)  Any person aggrieved by the decision ofthe hearings officer shall be entitled to judicial review as provided bysection 91-14.

(f)  The hearings officer may administer oaths,take or cause to be taken depositions of witnesses, and may issue subpoenas tocompel the attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of records,payrolls, correspondence, documents, or other material relating to any matterto be heard. [L 1995, c 154, pt of §3]