(a) An arbitration under this Part may be heard and determined by a judicial hearing officer or a court attorney referee instead of a panel of arbitrators, without regard for whether the arbitration otherwise would be triable before a single arbitrator or a panel of three arbitrators. The judicial hearing officer or court attorney referee shall be assigned by the commissioner, with the approval of the appropriate administrative judge, to hear and determine such proceedings as shall be assigned by the commissioner. When a judicial hearing officer or a court attorney referee presides over an arbitration, the procedures followed shall be as set forth in the provisions of the Part.

(b) Judicial hearing officers serving as arbitrators pursuant to this Part shall receive compensation as provided in section 122.8 of the Rules of the Chief Administrator. A location in which a hearing of the arbitration is held shall be deemed a “facility designated for court appearances” within the meaning of that section. Court attorney referees shall receive no additional compensation for service as arbitrators pursuant to this Part.