Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 46, § 1808. Procedure by the board; public hearings; right to counsel

A. Upon receipt of one or more applications for reparations resulting from the same crime, the board shall examine the application to determine that it is complete and shall schedule all of such claims for consideration at the same time. If the board determines that a hearing is necessary to a decision in the matter, it shall fix the day, time, and place thereof and shall notify the claimant or claimants and such other persons as have indicated a desire to be present or that the board desires to hear. The notice shall be in writing and shall be mailed by certified mail at least ten days prior to the day fixed for the hearing.

B. Hearings shall be open to the public unless in a particular case the board determines that all or part of the hearing should be closed, taking into consideration the fact that an accused has not been convicted or that a closed hearing is in the best interest of the victim. The applicant may appear and be heard and present evidence on his own behalf or through counsel or legal representative. Any person who has a substantial interest in the proceedings, as determined by the board, may appear before the board and shall have the right to introduce evidence and cross examine witnesses.

C. The members of the board and the attorney representing the board, if any, may question and cross examine witnesses. The board may bring before it physicians or other experts to examine any claimant. The board may receive in evidence any statement, document, information, or matter that it believes may contribute to the purposes of the hearing or to any of its deliberations, whether or not a hearing is held and whether or not any of them would be admissible in court.