Virginia Law

A. In the course of its analysis of any issue the commission may schedule oral presentations for purposes of permitting the parties to amplify their submissions, to critique and to offer comment upon the submissions and evidence offered by other parties, and to respond to questions relative to the issue from the commission. The presentations, if scheduled, shall extend for a period of time as the commission may deem appropriate.

B. If oral presentations are scheduled by the commission, the chair shall select, subsequent to the receipt of recommendations from the parties, an appropriate site for the presentations. Recommendations by the parties regarding the sites should be based upon the adequacy of space for the display and movement of exhibits; the adequacy of seating arrangements for the commission, its staff, representatives of the parties, a court reporter, and the public; the adequacy of security at the site to permit materials to be left unattended during recesses; and the adequacy of the acoustical characteristics of the site to facilitate communications or the availability of a public address system.

C. Local governments or other parties desiring to present exhibits or data requiring special equipment should be prepared to provide such.

D. The commission may, where it deems appropriate, consolidate two or more interlocal issues before it for purpose of oral presentations.

E. The commission shall, within the requirements of law, conduct the oral presentations in the manner it considers best suited for reaching a decision in the best interest of the parties and in the best interest of the Commonwealth.

F. The chair, or other member the commission designated to preside during any oral presentations, may allocate time to the various parties as the chair or presiding member deems appropriate. The allocation of time shall be based upon the needs of the commission to review data, to examine witnesses, and to obtain an understanding of the relevant factors affecting the issue under review.

G. The sequence in which testimony will be received by the commission during any oral presentations shall be established by the chair or presiding member but shall generally be as follows:

1. A brief opening statement by each party, if desired;

2. Presentation by the party initiating the issue before the commission;

3. Presentations by the local governments immediately affected by the action proposed by the initiating party, in an order established by the chair or presiding member;

4. Presentations by other parties, in an order established by the chair or presiding member;

5. Rebuttal where requested by a party and agreed to by the chair or presiding member.

H. The chair or presiding member may, to the extent the chair or presiding member deems appropriate, permit parties to question witnesses regarding submissions, their testimony, or other facts relevant to the issues before the commission. Where a party is represented by counsel, such questioning may be conducted by counsel.

Where the parties have prefiled testimony at the commission's request pursuant to 1VAC50-20-390 R, the questioning of individuals whose testimony has been prefiled shall be limited to a cross-examination of such testimony. The commission may accept additional oral testimony from individuals whose testimony has been prefiled during the presentations where good cause is shown. Where additional oral testimony is accepted by the commission, the commission shall provide an opportunity for other parties to respond to the testimony and to cross-examine the individual offering such testimony.

I. The chair or presiding member may, during or at the conclusion of the oral presentations, permit or request oral argument on the issues before the commission.

J. The commission, and its staff, may question any witness or representative of any party during the oral presentations regarding any submission, testimony, or other fact which the commission considers relevant to the issues before it. The chair or presiding member shall endeavor to call for commission questioning in a manner designed to expedite the presentations.

K. The commission may accept depositions from persons unable to attend an oral presentation. Depositions shall only be accepted under conditions deemed acceptable by the commission, including conditions assuring an opportunity for all affected local governments to be present and to examine adequately the witness during the taking of depositions.

L. The parties or their counsel shall be expected to confer in advance of the time and date set for presentations in order to inform one another of their prospective witnesses and the order of their anticipated appearance. All material, data, or exhibits proposed for presentation to the commission during the oral presentations and not previously made available to the other parties shall be exchanged or made available to the parties prior to presentation to the commission, subject to the qualifications in subsection M of this section.

M. The commission requires that all materials, data, and exhibits be presented to it and made available to other parties in advance of the commencement of the onsite component of the commission's review. The commission may accept additional materials, data, and exhibits during the onsite component of its review upon unanimous consent of the members present. Where late submissions are accepted by the commission, the commission shall provide an opportunity for other parties to respond to the filings.

N. The commission may record by mechanical device, unless other recording arrangements are made by the parties, all testimony given during the oral presentations but shall prepare a transcript of the recording only when deemed appropriate. The commission shall provide, upon request, any party a duplicate copy of the transcript or recording, if made, at a price sufficient to cover the expense incurred. In lieu of recording by the commission, the parties may arrange to provide a court reporter at their expense. Where a court reporter is utilized, the commission shall receive one copy of the transcript.