Arkansas Code Title 11. Labor and Industrial Relations § 11-10-526. Conduct of hearing or appeal--Rules--Consolidation of hearings, record, or evidence--Interest of director or board--Record--Witness fees

(b) Hearings on appeals before an appeals tribunal or before the board shall not be held sooner than five (5) days from the date of the mailing of notice thereof to the parties to the appeal.

(c) When the same or substantially similar evidence is relevant and material to the matters in issue in claims by more than one (1) individual or in claims by a single individual with respect to two (2) or more weeks of unemployment, the same time and place for considering each claim may be fixed, hearings jointly conducted, a single record of the proceedings made, and evidence introduced with respect to one (1) proceeding considered as introduced in the others, provided that in the judgment of the examiner or tribunal having jurisdiction of the proceeding, consolidation would not be prejudicial to any party.

(d) No person shall participate on behalf of the director or the board in any case in which he or she has a direct or indirect interest.

(e) A record shall be kept of all testimony and proceedings before special examiners or in connection with an appeal, but the testimony need not be transcribed unless further review is initiated.

(f) Witnesses subpoenaed pursuant to §§ 11-10-520 -- 11-10-532 shall be allowed fees at a rate fixed by the director, and fees of witnesses subpoenaed on behalf of the director or any claimant shall be deemed part of the expense of administering this chapter.