Code of Maine Rules › 94 - INDEPENDENT AGENCIES › 348 - MAINE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION › Chapter 2 - PROCEDURAL RULE › Section 348-2-06 - COMMISSION MEETING

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. Presentations
(1) The Commission may allow the parties, in
				cases in which a written submission of disagreement with the Investigator's
				Report has been made by one or more parties, to make an oral presentation on
				information related to the complaint of discrimination at a monthly Commission
				meeting. Information presented must comply with 2.05(I).
(2) The Commission may impose time limits:
a) The standard time for each party's oral
				presentation shall be 10 minutes, exclusive of time spent responding directly
				and succinctly to questions from the Commission (extended argument after a
				question has been answered will be considered part of the party's presentation
				time). That time may be shortened in order to ensure that all cases receive a
				sufficient allotment of time, based on the length of that meeting's
				agenda.
b) Absent special
				circumstances, as determined by the Executive Director, when a case involves
				multiple Complainants or multiple Respondents (and when related or companion
				cases involve substantially similar issues and/or parties), the 10-minute
				time-limit will apply to the Complainants and/or Respondents collectively, and
				the individual parties shall allot the time amongst themselves.
c) If a party does not use their entire time
				allotment in their initial presentation, they may use the remaining time to
				rebut the opposing party's presentation. Each party shall be allowed one
				presentation, and one rebuttal period. Any time remaining shall be forfeited.
d) These time limits and
				procedures are subject to the discretion of the Commission, which may extend
				time or allow further rebuttal if the Commission deems it necessary to their
				understanding of the case.
(3) A party who did not make a written
				submission may make a presentation at the Commission meeting to rebut the
				opposing party's presentation.
(4)
				If the party/parties who disagree with the Investigator's Report does not
				attend the meeting, despite having provided a written submission, the
				party/parties agreeing with the Report shall be heard only upon request of the
				Commission.
(5) If a party wishes
				to request a reasonable accommodation (for example, a request for an
				interpreter for an individual for whom English is not their primary language)
				to participate at a Commission meeting, the party should make the request to
				the Executive Director at least five business days prior to the meeting. The
				request should provide information sufficient to allow the Executive Director
				and/or Commission Counsel to evaluate the request, such as the reason for the
				request (
i.e.
disability, language barrier), the accommodation
				requested (
i.e
., captioning, in-person interpreter versus
				remote interpreting, dialect needed, visual alerts, extended presentation
				time), and (where not obvious) the connection between the protected class and
				the requested accommodation. When it cannot provide the specific accommodation
				requested, the Commission may offer alternative reasonable accommodations
				tailored to meet the individual's need. If the requested accommodation (or a
				reasonable and effective alternative) cannot be arranged prior to the meeting,
				the case may be tabled in order to allow sufficient time to identify and
				provide a reasonable accommodation.
(6) If a party intends to use any
				visual/illustrative aid in their presentation to the Commission, that aid must
				be provided to the other party and to the Executive Director at least five
				business days prior to the meeting so that it may be reviewed. Any
				visual/illustrative aid must comply with Rule
				2.05(I).
(7) An oral presentation to the Commission
				may be made only by a party to the complaint or by their legal representative.
				If a party wishes to be represented by an individual other than their legal
				representative, they must make a request to the Executive Director at least
				five business days before the scheduled presentation. The Executive Director
				shall have discretion over all such requests. In no case shall a witness in the
				case be allowed to participate in an oral presentation. Non-parties shall be
				referred to by pseudonyms only.