(1) The board of trustees is authorized to appoint a hearing officer, who shall be an impartial employee of the Tennessee treasury department, to conduct contested case proceedings pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, or to request the appointment of an administrative judge from the office of the secretary of state to conduct the proceedings.
(2) If the initial order of the administrative judge is appealed to the board of trustees, the executive committee established in § 8-34-322 shall hear the appeal.