The presiding officer controls the hearing process, but citizens keep the right to speak within the time limit set by the presiding officer.
§2017. Public hearings; presiding officer; authority A. Subject to other provisions of this Section, the presiding officer at a public hearing shall have the authority to regulate the course of the proceeding, including the authority to begin and terminate the proceeding, to continue the hearing to another time or location, and to limit testimony which would be excessively cumulative or not related to the purpose of the hearing; however nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the right of any citizen to speak at a public hearing within the time limit set forth by the presiding officer. B.(1) Regarding public hearings on permits for facilities, the presiding officer shall give preference for speaking up to one hour after the initial thirty-minute presentation of each hearing: first to those citizens who live within a two-mile radius of the location of the facility; second to those citizens who work within a two-mile radius of the location of the facility; and third to those citizens who live within the parish of the location of the facility. Thereafter, each hour of the hearing shall alternate between those who are in support of the proposed permit and those who are opposed to the proposed permit. (2) Prior to the first hour of the hearing provided for in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the presiding officer shall provide for an introductory presentation of up to thirty minutes by the applicant to discuss and explain the proposed permit. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Subsection, the presiding officer at a public hearing may give preference to a public official to speak at any time during the public hearing. However, any time limit set by the presiding officer for citizen testimony shall apply to public officials. Acts 1993, No. 557, §1; Acts 1997, No. 805, §1; Acts 2004, No. 72, §1.