N.Y. SAP Law § 303

§ 303. Presiding officers. Except as otherwise provided by statute,\nthe agency, one or more members of the agency, or one or more hearing\nofficers designated and empowered by the agency to conduct hearings\nshall be presiding officers. Hearings shall be conducted in an\nimpartial manner. Upon the filing in good faith by a party of a timely\nand sufficient affidavit of personal bias or disqualification of a\npresiding officer, the agency shall determine the matter as part of the\nrecord in the case, and its determination shall be a matter subject to\njudicial review at the conclusion of the adjudicatory proceeding.\nWhenever a presiding officer is disqualified or it becomes impractical\nfor him to continue the hearing, another presiding officer may be\nassigned to continue with the case unless it is shown that substantial\nprejudice to the party will result therefrom.\n