Sec. 202.44. Motion to confirm or reject judicial hearing officer's report or referee's report

(a) When a judicial hearing officer or referee appointed to hear and report has duly filed his or her report, together with the transcript of testimony taken and all papers and exhibits before him or her in the proceedings, if any, and has duly given notice to each party of the filing of the report, the plaintiff shall move on notice to confirm or reject all or part of the report within 15 days after notice of such filing was given. If plaintiff fails to make the motion, the defendant shall so move within 30 days after notice of such filing was given.

(b) If no party moves as specified above, the court, on its own motion, shall issue its determination. Costs of such motion, including reasonable attorneys' fees, shall be borne by the parties pro rata, except a party who did not request any relief. However, the Attorney General of New York, or State, Federal or local governmental agencies or officers thereof, shall not be liable for costs. This subdivision shall not apply to a reference to a special referee or a judicial hearing officer or to a reference to a referee in an uncontested matrimonial action.

(c) The term referee in this section shall be used as defined in section 202.43(e) of this Part.