Section 560IAC2-4-4. Fact-finding

   (a) Parties at impasse must engage in at least one (1) mediation session prior to the initiation of fact-finding.

  (b) If parties in the fact-finding process are able to reach a settlement, they shall submit identical LBOs to the fact-finder, and the fact-finder shall impose the terms of the joint LBO as the contract. Each party's LBO must contain a verification statement, as required by section 3.1 of this rule.

  (c) The school corporation is responsible for providing a room for the fact-finding hearing and equipment and necessary materials for recording of the proceedings. Each party has a maximum of two (2) hours to present in the fact-finding hearing and one (1) hour for rebuttal.

  (d) The purpose of fact-finding is to provide a final solution on the items permitted to be bargained under IC 20-29-6-4 whenever the parties are unable by themselves, or through a mediator, to resolve a dispute.

  (e) If no request for review has reached the board within five (5) days after the parties have received the fact-finding report under section 6 of this rule, the fact-finding report will be delivered to the board, and it will be released to the public within ten (10) days after delivery to the board. (Indiana Education Employment Relations Board; 560 IAC 2-4-4; filed Oct 6, 1988, 11:15 a.m.: 12 IR 315; readopted filed Sep 12, 2001, 10:55 a.m.: 25 IR 529; readopted filed Nov 30, 2007, 11:19 a.m.: 20071226-IR-560070368RFA; filed Aug 28, 2012, 2:06 p.m.: 20120926-IR-560120112FRA; readopted filed Sep 10, 2013, 10:25 a.m.: 20131009-IR-560130214RFA)