Sec.17a-636-49. Ex parte communication

(a) Unless required for the disposition of ex parte matters authorized by law, neither the Commission members nor any hearing officer nor any person designated as a presiding officer shall communicate directly or indirectly with any person or party concerning any issue of fact or law involved in any contested case that has been commenced under these rules, except upon notice and opportunity for all parties to participate.

(b) Any hearing officer or any person designated as a presiding officer and the executive director may severally communicate with each other ex parte and may have the aid and advice of such members of the Commission staff as are assigned to assist them in such contested case. The names of the Commission staff so assigned shall be made part of the hearing record. This rule shall not be construed to preclude such routine communications as are necessary to permit the Commission staff to investigate facts, to conduct informal conferences, and to audit the applicable records of any party in a contested case at any time before, during, and after the hearing thereof.

(Effective June 1, 1992)