(a) The hearing examiner may, by written notice, either on his own initiative or in response to a request by one of the parties, direct the parties or their representatives to appear before him at a specified time and place for a conference with the examiner to consider any of the following:      
        (1) formulation or simplification of issues;        
          (2) admissions, stipulations of fact or stipulations concerning the use of public records, or other evidence;          
            (3) hearing procedures;            
              (4) limitation, where possible, of the number of witnesses; or              
                (5) any other matters which may aid in shortening or simplifying the proceedings, or in the disposition of matters in controversy.                
                  (b) Action taken at a prehearing conference shall be recorded by the examiner, or by an official or licensed court reporter, or reduced to writing by the parties and filed as a part of the record of theproceeding.                 
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §17.17 adopted to be effective April 22, 1992, 17 TexReg 2472.