Sec. 26. (a) This section and section 25 of this chapter govern the conduct of any hearing conducted by an administrative law judge. Upon proper objection, the administrative law judge shall exclude evidence that is irrelevant, immaterial, unduly repetitious, or excludable on constitutional or statutory grounds or on the basis of evidentiary privilege recognized in the courts. In the absence of proper objection, the administrative law judge may exclude objectionable evidence. The administrative law judge may admit hearsay evidence. If not objected to, the hearsay evidence may form the basis for an order. However, if the evidence is properly objected to and does not fall within a recognized exception to the hearsay rule, the resulting order may not be based solely upon the hearsay evidence.
(b) All testimony of parties and witnesses must be made under oath or affirmation.
(c) Statements presented by nonparties in accordance with section 25 of this chapter may be received as evidence.
(d) Any part of the evidence may be received in written form if doing so will expedite the hearing without substantial prejudice to the interests of any party.
(e) Documentary evidence may be received in the form of a copy or excerpt. Upon request, parties shall be given an opportunity to compare the copy with the original if available.
(f) Official notice may be taken of the following:
(1) Any fact that could be judicially noticed in the courts.
(2) The record of other proceedings before the agency.
(3) Technical or scientific matters within the agency's specialized knowledge.
(4) Codes or standards that have been adopted by an agency of the United States or this state.
(g) Parties must be:
(1) notified before or during the hearing, or before the issuance of any order that is based in whole or in part on facts or material noticed under subsection (f), of the specific facts or material noticed, and the source of the facts or material noticed, including any staff memoranda and data; and
(2) afforded an opportunity to contest and rebut the facts or material noticed under subsection (f).