(a) The chair shall review the qualifications of applicants for the position of arbitrator of disputed requests for family leave, make appointments, and review the arbitrator’s performance.

(b) An arbitrator shall be an attorney admitted to practice in New York State and have a knowledge of the PFL.

(c) All arbitrators shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the chair. An arbitrator candidate shall disclose to the chair any circumstance which is likely to create an appearance of bias or which might disqualify such person as an arbitrator, and the chair shall determine whether the candidate should be disqualified. The chair shall forward the names of all arbitrators to the dispute resolution forum, and promptly inform the dispute resolution forum of all additions to, and deletions from, the panel of arbitrators.

(d) Any arbitrator appointed by the chair shall be subject to disqualification with respect to a particular case for the reasons specified in section 380-9.7 of this Subpart.

(e) All arbitrators shall be required to take an annual oath of office. Arbitrators shall require all witnesses to testify under oath or affirm that their statements are true under penalty of perjury.