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73be given by the witness relied upon by a party to the appeal. The parties to an appeal to the Review Committee may submit a previously un-submitted Summary Statement at the Review Committee hearing, for good cause. After receipt the Appeal Statement, and all attachments, shall be sent by the Commissioner to the parties to the appeal and to the Review Committee members, and should be received no later than the day before the hearing.17-4.5 Hearing Procedure of Review CommitteeThe following general procedures will be followed at such hearing: a. A quorum of the Review committee is Four (4) members including the hearing officer. The hearing officer shall not vote on any case unless his/her vote is necessary to break a tie vote. b. The hearing officer will prepare an agenda for the hearing, and a copy thereof shall be furnished to the affected party, the IHSAA and all interested parties to the appeal. The hearing officer shall set the length of the appeal hearing and shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations, rule upon offers of proof, receive relevant oral or documentary evidence, regulate the course of the hearing and conduct of the parties and witnesses, and do such other things necessary to effectuate the purposes of the IHSAA. c. The principal who conducted the initial investigation and/or made a decision, as well as the Commissioner, or a designee, should attend the hearing. All other parties are entitled to attend the hearing if they desire. Each party may be represented by counsel of their choice and examine and cross-examine witnesses. Counsel for the IHSAA may attend the hearing, assist the hearing officer in the conduct of the hearing, and examine and crossexamine witnesses. d. Each party to the appeal shall present, through the appeal statements, the party%u2019s case. This initial presentation should be limited to Fifteen (15) minutes. This presentation may be supplemented through brief oral testimony, however, the testimony shall be limited to pertinent evidence which is key to the party%u2019s position. Lengthy statements and testimony shall not be allowed. Following the parties%u2019 presentations, the Review Committee shall ask questions of the parties and the witnesses as needed. Following the questioning of the Review Committee, the parties shall have a right of brief cross-examination of all parties and witnesses present; lengthy cross-examination shall not be allowed. e. The technical rules of evidence will not be applicable, and therefore, any oral or documentary information may be received, but the Review Committee reserves the right to exclude any information which it determines to be irrelevant, immaterial or unduly repetitious. f. The hearing officer shall require that the examination of witnesses be orderly. When examination is disorderly, it may be terminated and the disruptive individuals may be excluded from the hearing. g. When more than One (1) party has requested an appeal, and where the facts are substantially the same for all parties, a single hearing may be conducted when deemed advisable by the hearing officer. h. The Review Committee is not bound by the decision of the principal or Commissioner, and shall make its decision in the matter based upon the facts and information presented at the hearing. The Review Committee shall base its findings on information presented to it at the hearing which it determines to be reliable, credible and of probative value. The Review Committee%u2019s decision may be based upon different facts and/or upon different rules from those cited by either the principal or the Commissioner. The Review Committee%u2019s findings and decision, along with the rule upon which it is based, shall be promptly mailed to the principal and the affected party or parties. i. The Review Committee%u2019s findings and decision, along with the rule upon which it is based, shall be promptly mailed to the principal(s) involved and the affected party or parties. If a decision concerns the application or interpretation of a rule of the IHSAA to an individual student, then not later than Three (3) business days after the decision is made, the IHSAA shall send to the student%u2019s parents and the student%u2019s School, by registered or certified mail, the decision and a notice about the process for appealing the decision to the Panel described in rule 17-10.Rule 17 - Investigations ... Waivers