Hearing; final determination of debt.

(b) (1) The officers of the court designated by the judges of that court submitting debts to the Administrative Office of the Courts shall appoint a hearing officer for the purpose of conducting hearings under this Code section. The officers of the court shall adopt appropriate procedures to govern the conducting of hearings by the hearing officer. A written or electronic copy of such procedures shall be provided to a debtor immediately upon the receipt of notice from a debtor under subsection (a) of this Code section.

(2) Issues that have been previously litigated shall not be considered at a hearing. The hearing officer shall determine whether the debt is owed to the court and the amount of the debt. Such determination shall be in writing and shall be provided to the debtor and the Administrative Office of the Courts within five days after the date the hearing is conducted.

(3) If the debtor or the court disagrees with the determination of the hearing officer, either party may appeal that determination by filing a petition in the superior court not later than ten days following the date of the hearing officer’s written determination. The superior court judge shall conduct a hearing and shall render a final determination in writing and shall transmit a copy to the hearing officer, the debtor, and the Administrative Office of the Courts not later than ten days after the date of that hearing.

(4) The losing party to such proceeding as provided for in paragraph (3) of this subsection shall pay any filing fees and costs of service, except that the officers of the court designated by the judges of that court shall be authorized to waive such fees and costs. The court submitting the debt to the Administrative Office of the Courts shall be responsible for attorneys’ fees of the debtor who is contesting the setoff in cases where the superior court finds in favor of the debtor.