39-31-207. Petition on representation question -- investigation by board -- hearing. (1) The board or an agent of the board shall investigate the petition and, if it has reasonable cause to believe that a question of representation exists, it shall provide for an appropriate hearing upon due notice whenever, in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed by the board, a petition has been filed:

(a) by an employee or group of employees or any labor organization acting in their behalf alleging that 30% of the employees:

(i) wish to be represented for collective bargaining by a labor organization as exclusive representative; or

(ii) assert that the labor organization which has been certified or is currently being recognized by the public employer as bargaining representative is no longer the representative of the majority of employees in the unit; or

(b) by the public employer alleging that one or more labor organizations have presented to it a claim to be recognized as the exclusive representative in an appropriate unit.

(2) In this hearing, the board is not bound by common law and statutory rules of evidence.