Opinion ID: 874394
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The hearing officer is vested with the proper authority under IDAPA 16.05.03.131.

Text: Wheeler also argues the hearing officer is not vested with the proper authority under IDAPA 16.05.03.131. Wheeler asserts that IDAPA 16.05.03.131 contains conflicting provisions in that a hearing officer is instructed to determine whether the Department's interpretation of the FLLSA is contrary to the statute or constitutes an abuse of discretion, yet the hearing officer is also prohibited from invalidating any statute, rule, regulation, or court order. Wheeler claims that in order for the hearing officer to properly carry out his review function, the officer must have the authority to invalidate statutes, rules, regulations, and court orders. To the extent IDAPA 16.05.03.131 holds otherwise, Wheeler appears to argue the rule should be invalidated. We find that the hearing officer is vested with the proper authority under IDAPA 16.05.03.131. IDAPA 16.05.03.131 states: The hearing officer will consider only information that was available to the Department at the time the decision was made. If appellant shows that there is additional relevant information that was not presented to the Department with good cause, the hearing officer will remand the case to the Department for consideration. No hearing officer has the jurisdiction or authority to invalidate any federal or state statute, rule, regulation, or court order. The hearing officer must defer to the Department's interpretation of statutes, rules, regulations or policy unless the hearing officer finds the interpretation to be contrary to statute or an abuse of discretion. The hearing officer will not retain jurisdiction on any matter after it has been remanded to the Department. Here, Wheeler fails to perceive the difference between the hearing officer reviewing the Department's conduct under existing law versus the hearing officer invalidating the Department's authority to act altogether. Pursuant to IDAPA 16.05.03.131, a hearing officer may determine whether the Department misinterpreted a statute, rule, regulation, or policy, as written; and/or whether the Department exceeded its bounds of discretion under existing law. Neither of these functions requires a hearing officer to invalidate a statute, rule, regulation, or court order; thus, the provisions of IDAPA 16.05.03.131 are consistent. Therefore, we uphold the district court's decision to dismiss Wheeler's argument. [10]