New York Consolidated Laws, Civil Practice Law and Rules - CVP § 7559. Hearing;  evidence;  record;  neutral experts

(a) An arbitration hearing shall be informal and the rules of evidence shall be those applicable to arbitrations conducted pursuant to article seventy-five of this chapter.

(b) Testimony at the hearing shall be taken under oath and a record of the proceedings shall be made by a recording device.  Any party may obtain a copy of the recording of the proceeding, which shall be provided without charge.  A party, at that party's expense, may also utilize the services of a stenographic reporter.  The cost of any transcription ordered by the panel of arbitrators for its own use shall be deemed part of the cost of the proceedings.

(c) The panel on its own motion may call a neutral expert witness who shall be subject to cross-examination by the parties.  The cost of the expert will be deemed a cost of the proceeding.