Sec.12-562-14a. Ex parte communication

(a) Board member prohibition. No board member shall engage in any oral ex parte communications with any representative, agent, officer or employee of any business organization regulated under Chapter 226 C.G.S., the Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Procedures and the Mohegan Tribe and State of Connecticut Tribal-State Compact concerning any matter pending or impending before the board.

(b) Contested case proceedings. Unless required for the disposition of matters ex parte authorized by law, neither board members, the executive director, nor any designated division presiding officer shall communicate directly or indirectly with any party or intervenor concerning any issue of fact or law involved in any contested case that has been commenced under Sections 12-562-1a through 12-562-19a, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, except upon notice and opportunity for all parties to participate. The board members, the executive director and any other designated presiding officer may severally communicate with each other ex parte and may communicate with and have the aid and advice of such members of the division staff as are assigned to assist them in any contested case. This rule shall not be construed to preclude such routine communications as are necessary to permit division staff to investigate facts and to conduct informal staff conferences at any time before, during, and after the hearing of a contested case. The board, the executive director or any designated presiding officer may designate a staff person who is not assigned to render a decision or to make findings of fact or conclusions of law to communicate with any person or party for the purposes of conducting informal conferences at any time before, during or after the hearing of the contested case proceeding.

(Effective October 24, 1986; Amended June 4, 1999)