Section 2605.250  Intervenors

a)         Prior to the hearing of evidence, a person may submit a Petition for Intervention.  The Hearing Officer may grant the person leave to intervene if the person demonstrates one of the following:

1)         The person can show an interest in the proceeding that may not be adequately represented by the parties to the proceeding; or

2)         The person may be affected by the Final Decision; or

3)         The person is another agency of the State of Illinois that has an interest (i.e., statutory right or duty) that may be affected by the matter that is before the Department.

b)         An intervenor shall have all of the rights of an original party, except that the Hearing Officer may, in his order allowing intervention, provide that the intervenor shall be bound by orders previously entered, or by evidence previously received, that the intervenor shall not raise issues that might more properly have been raised at an earlier stage of the proceeding, unless the intervenor can show good cause for delay in intervening or as justice requires.

c)         The decision of the Hearing Officer granting or denying the Petition for Intervention shall be considered a Final Decision pursuant to Section 2605.410 for purposes of appeal.