§ 7559. Hearing; evidence; record; neutral experts. (a) An arbitration
hearing shall be informal and the rules of evidence shall be those
applicable to arbitrations conducted pursuant to article seventy-five of
this chapter.

(b) Testimony at the hearing shall be taken under oath and a record of
the proceedings shall be made by a recording device. Any party may
obtain a copy of the recording of the proceeding, which shall be
provided without charge. A party, at that party's expense, may also
utilize the services of a stenographic reporter. The cost of any
transcription ordered by the panel of arbitrators for its own use shall
be deemed part of the cost of the proceedings.

(c) The panel on its own motion may call a neutral expert witness who
shall be subject to cross-examination by the parties. The cost of the
expert will be deemed a cost of the proceeding.