[§658J-13]  Powers and duties of arbitrator.  (a)  An arbitrator shall conduct an arbitration in a manner the arbitrator considers appropriate for a fair and expeditious disposition of the dispute.

     (b)  An arbitrator shall provide each party a right to be heard, to present evidence material to the family law dispute, and to cross-examine witnesses.

     (c)  Unless the parties otherwise agree in a record, an arbitrator's powers include the power to:

     (1)  Select the rules for conducting the arbitration;

     (2)  Hold conferences with the parties before a hearing;

     (3)  Determine the date, time, and place of a hearing;

     (4)  Require a party to provide:

          (A)  A copy of a relevant court order;

          (B)  Information required to be disclosed in a family law proceeding under law of this State other than this chapter; and

          (C)  A proposed award that addresses each issue in arbitration;

     (5)  Meet with or interview a child who is the subject of a child-related dispute;

     (6)  Appoint a private expert at the expense of the parties;

     (7)  Administer an oath or affirmation and issue a subpoena for the attendance of a witness or the production of documents and other evidence at a hearing;

     (8)  Compel discovery concerning the family law dispute and determine the date, time, and place of discovery;

     (9)  Determine the admissibility and weight of evidence;

    (10)  Permit deposition of a witness for use as evidence at a hearing;

    (11)  For good cause, prohibit a party from disclosing information;

    (12)  Appoint an attorney, guardian ad litem, or other representative for a child at the expense of the parties;

    (13)  Impose a procedure to protect a party or child from risk of harm, harassment, or intimidation;

    (14)  Allocate arbitration fees, attorney's fees, expert-witness fees, and other costs to the parties; and

    (15)  Impose a sanction on a party for bad faith or misconduct during the arbitration according to standards governing imposition of a sanction for litigant misconduct in a family law proceeding.

     (d)  An arbitrator shall not allow ex parte communication except to the extent allowed in a family law proceeding for communication with a judge. [L 2017, c 113, pt of §1]