N.Y. Executive Law § 259-d: Hearing officers

§ 259-d. Hearing officers. 1. The state board of parole shall appoint

and shall have the power to remove, in accordance with the provisions of

the civil service law, hearing officers who shall be authorized to

conduct parole revocation proceedings. Hearing officers shall function

independently of the department regarding all of their decision-making

functions, and shall report directly to the board, provided, however,

that administrative matters of general applicability within the

department shall be applicable to all hearing officers. A hearing

officer conducting such proceedings shall, when delegated such authority

by the board in rules adopted by the board, be required to make a

written decision in accordance with standards and rules adopted by the

board. Nothing in this article shall be deemed to preclude a member of

the state board of parole from exercising all of the functions, powers

and duties of a hearing officer upon request of the chairman.

2. The board, acting in cooperation with the civil service commission,

shall establish standards, preliminary requisites and requisites to

govern the selection, appointment and removal of hearing officers. Such

standards and requisites shall be designed to assure that persons

selected as hearing officers have the ability to conduct parole

revocation proceedings fairly and impartially. Such standards shall not

require prior experience as a parole officer. The board shall have the

authority to establish procedures necessary to implement this section.