Pursuant to RCW 34.05.425, the presiding officer in a commission hearing shall be the chair of the commission, or other commission member designated by the chair. In proceedings in which the chair or other designee is the presiding officer, the commission shall make the final decision and enter the final order.

In the alternative, the commission may designate that the presiding officer shall be one or more administrative law judges assigned by the office of administrative hearings in accordance with chapter 34.12 RCW.

The administrative law judge shall conduct the proceeding and enter an initial order. The initial order shall be subject to review by the commission as provided in RCW 34.05.464.