§ 222. Technical rules of evidence or procedure not required. The
chair, the board or the chair's designee, pursuant to section two
hundred twenty-one of this article, in making an investigation or
inquiry or conducting a hearing shall not be bound by common law or
statutory rules of evidence or by technical or formal rules of
procedure, except as provided by this chapter; but may make such
investigation or inquiry or conduct such hearing in such manner as to
ascertain the substantial rights of the parties.