After review by the Dept. of Administration showing that it would increase expense to combine these two groups, it makes more sense for the RCA to stay where it is. The second change was a correction to a drafting error that allowed the RCA to employ hearing officers instead of hearing examiners. Hearing examiners must be attorneys but not hearing officers. They need to be proficient in judicial hearings and the rules of evidence and procedure. The final change clarifies that the RCA may employ and use mediators as well as arbitrators in its hearing process.
Mediation is a less formal process than arbitration.
Mediation tends to expedite the process of finding common ground among the interested parties. SB 229 passed the Senate on February 17 and is now before the House.