(a) (1) In any action set for hearing, the administrative hearing officer, upon the administrative hearing officer's own motion, or upon motion of one (1) of the parties or such party's qualified representatives, may direct the parties or the attorneys for the parties, or both, to appear before the administrative hearing officer for a conference to consider:
(A) The simplification of issues;
(B) The possibility of obtaining admissions of fact and of documents that will avoid unnecessary proof;
(C) The limitation of the number of witnesses; and
(D) Such other matters as may aid in the disposition of the action.
(2) The administrative hearing officer shall make an order that recites the action taken at the conference, and the agreements made by the parties as to any of the matters considered, and that limits the issues for hearing to those not disposed of by admissions or agreements of the parties. Such order when entered controls the subsequent course of the action, unless modified at the hearing to prevent manifest injustice.
(b) Upon reasonable notice to all parties, the administrative hearing officer may convene a hearing or convert a pre-hearing conference to a hearing, to be conducted by the administrative hearing officer sitting alone, to consider argument or evidence, or both, on any question of law.
(c) In the discretion of the administrative hearing officer, all or part of the pre-hearing conference may be conducted by telephone, television or other electronic means, if each participant in the conference has an opportunity to participate in, to hear, and, if technically feasible, to see the entire proceeding while it is taking place.
(d) If a pre-hearing conference is not held, the administrative hearing officer may issue a pre-hearing order, based on the pleadings, to regulate the conduct of the proceedings.