Sec.38a-8-35. Ex parte communications

(a) Unless required for the disposition ex parte of matters authorized by law, neither the Commissioner nor any 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 presiding officer and the Commissioner may severally communicate with each other ex parte and may have the aid and advice of such members of the staff as are assigned to assist them in such contested case. This rule shall not be construed to preclude such necessary routine communications as are necessary to permit the staff to investigate facts and to audit the applicable records of any party in a contested case at any time before, during, and after the hearing thereof.

(c) Unless required for the disposition of ex parte matters authorized by law, no party or intervenor in a contested case, and no person who has a direct or indirect interest in the outcome of the case, shall communicate, directly or indirectly, in connection with any issue in that case, with the Commissioner, a hearing officer or with any employee or agent of the Insurance Department assigned to assist the hearing officer or Commissioner in such case, without notice and opportunity for all parties to participate in the communication.

(Effective September 25, 1992; Amended February 1, 2001)