653—25.6 (17A) Presiding officer in a disciplinary contested case. The presiding officer in a disciplinary contested case shall be the board or a panel of the board. The board may request that an administrative law judge assist the board with initial rulings on prehearing matters. Decisions of the administrative law judge serving in this capacity are subject to the interlocutory appeal provisions of rule 25.23(l7A). In addition, an administrative law judge may assist and advise the board presiding at the contested case hearing.