39-31-406. Hearing on complaint -- findings -- order. (1) The complainant and the person charged shall be parties and shall appear in person or otherwise give testimony at the place and time fixed in the notice of hearing. In the discretion of the board or its agent conducting the hearing, any other person may be allowed to intervene in the proceeding and present testimony.
     (2) In any hearing the board is not bound by the rules of evidence prevailing in the courts.
     (3) The testimony taken by the board or its agent shall be reduced to writing and filed with the board. Thereafter, in its discretion the board upon notice may take further testimony or hear argument.
     (4) If, upon the preponderance of the testimony taken, the board is of the opinion that any person named in the complaint has engaged in or is engaging in an unfair labor practice, it shall state its findings of fact and shall issue and cause to be served on the person an order requiring him to cease and desist from the unfair labor practice and to take such affirmative action, including reinstatement of employees with or without back pay, as will effectuate the policies of this chapter. The order may further require the person to make reports from time to time showing the extent to which he has complied with the order. No order of the board shall require the reinstatement of any individual as an employee who has been suspended or discharged or the payment to him of any back pay if it is found that the individual was suspended or discharged for cause.
     (5) If, upon the preponderance of the testimony taken, the board is not of the opinion that the person named in the complaint has engaged in or is engaging in the unfair labor practice, then the board shall state its findings of fact and shall issue an order dismissing the complaint.
     (6) If the evidence is presented before a member of the board or before an examiner, the member or the examiner, as the case may be, shall issue and cause to be served on the parties to the proceeding a proposed decision, together with a recommended order, which shall be filed with the board, and if no exceptions are filed within 20 days after service thereof upon the parties or within such further period as the board may authorize, the recommended order shall become the order of the board. The board shall issue a final order within 5 months after final briefs are submitted to the hearings officer. If briefs are to be submitted, but either or both of the parties fail to submit their brief on the date set by the hearing examiner at the close of the hearing on the matter, then the board shall issue a final order within 5 months after the date the last brief was ordered to be submitted. If no briefs are to be submitted, the board shall issue a final order within 5 months after the hearing.

     History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 441, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 59-1607(part); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 369, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 213, L. 1983.