sec.177Whether hearings are to be open or closed

### sec.177 Whether hearings are to be open or closed Generally, a hearing is not open to the public. However— for a hearing for a crime investigation, the commission may open the hearing to the public ( public hearing ) if it— considers opening the hearing will make the investigation to which the hearing relates more effective and would not be unfair to a person or contrary to the public interest; and approves that the hearing be a public hearing; or for a hearing other than a hearing mentioned in paragraph (a) , the commission may open the hearing to the public if it— considers closing the hearing to the public would be unfair to a person or contrary to the public interest; and approves that the hearing be a public hearing. A decision about whether a hearing should be a public hearing must not be delegated. If the commission decides to open a hearing to the public, the presiding officer for the hearing may close the hearing for a particular purpose. s 177 amd 2006 No. 41 s 9 ; 2024 No. 41 s 21 (sec.177-ssec.1) Generally, a hearing is not open to the public. (sec.177-ssec.2) However— for a hearing for a crime investigation, the commission may open the hearing to the public ( public hearing ) if it— considers opening the hearing will make the investigation to which the hearing relates more effective and would not be unfair to a person or contrary to the public interest; and approves that the hearing be a public hearing; or for a hearing other than a hearing mentioned in paragraph (a) , the commission may open the hearing to the public if it— considers closing the hearing to the public would be unfair to a person or contrary to the public interest; and approves that the hearing be a public hearing. (sec.177-ssec.3) A decision about whether a hearing should be a public hearing must not be delegated. (sec.177-ssec.4) If the commission decides to open a hearing to the public, the presiding officer for the hearing may close the hearing for a particular purpose. - (a) for a hearing for a crime investigation, the commission may open the hearing to the public ( public hearing ) if it— (i) considers opening the hearing will make the investigation to which the hearing relates more effective and would not be unfair to a person or contrary to the public interest; and (ii) approves that the hearing be a public hearing; or - (i) considers opening the hearing will make the investigation to which the hearing relates more effective and would not be unfair to a person or contrary to the public interest; and - (ii) approves that the hearing be a public hearing; or - (b) for a hearing other than a hearing mentioned in paragraph (a) , the commission may open the hearing to the public if it— (i) considers closing the hearing to the public would be unfair to a person or contrary to the public interest; and (ii) approves that the hearing be a public hearing. - (i) considers closing the hearing to the public would be unfair to a person or contrary to the public interest; and - (ii) approves that the hearing be a public hearing. - (i) considers opening the hearing will make the investigation to which the hearing relates more effective and would not be unfair to a person or contrary to the public interest; and - (ii) approves that the hearing be a public hearing; or - (i) considers closing the hearing to the public would be unfair to a person or contrary to the public interest; and - (ii) approves that the hearing be a public hearing.