(1) The Director of the Arkansas State Claims Commission shall notify each claimant and also the head of each state agency against which a claim or action is filed of the time and place set for a hearing on the claim or action, if a hearing on the matter is set by the Arkansas State Claims Commission.
(2) A party to a claim or action is not entitled to a hearing as a matter of law but may request a hearing before the commission.
(3) The commission is not bound by the formal rules of evidence and shall conduct all hearings publicly and in a fair and impartial manner, giving the parties full opportunity for presentation of evidence, cross-examination of witnesses, and argument.
(4) To the extent practicable, the commission shall adopt the procedure used by the circuit courts, and a hearing before the commission shall be conducted in a judicial manner.
(5) Hearings on a motion filed by a party shall be set: Upon request of one (1) of the parties; and
(6) If the commission finds that oral argument or witness testimony, or both, will benefit the commission in deciding on the motion.