(a) A hearing officer is disqualified if he participates in the decision to:(1) refer the case to the investigation unit; or(2) recommend disqualification for intentional program violation.(b) A hearing officer may be disqualified if:(1) the hearing officer participated in a case conference with the worker, investigator, or the supervisor to make a referral for an intentional program violation decision. The hearing officer may not have discussed or evaluated a case or any major points at issue;(2) the hearing officer reviewed the entire record or a comprehensive summary of the record to make a referral for disqualification;(3) the hearing officer has a personal interest in the outcome of the hearing decision or has some other conflict of interest;(4) a household member requests that a certain hearing officer not hold the hearing or makes allegations against the fairness of the hearing officer; and/or(5) the hearing officer has supervised the worker or investigator although he may not have been involved in the decision.(c) The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) does not disqualify a hearing officer because he answers a question about DHS policy concerning the case, if the question and answer are stated in broad terms.