(a) The banking commissioner may not be compelled to hold a hearing before granting or denying the charter application. The banking commissioner may grant a hearing at the request of an applicant or a protesting party. The banking commissioner may order a hearing without any party having requested one.     
      (b) A party requesting a hearing must indicate with specificity the issues involved that cannot be determined on the basis of the record complied under §15.10(b) - (d) of this title (relating to Protested Applications) and why the issues cannot be determined.     
      (c) If the banking commissioner sets a hearing, the banking commissioner shall conduct a public hearing and one or more prehearing conferences as the banking commissioner considers advisable and consistent with applicable law. The banking commissioner shall also allow the parties to undertake such discovery as the banking commissioner considers advisable and consistent with applicable law, except that the banking commissioner may not permit discovery of confidential information in the charter application or the investigation report.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §15.11 adopted to be effective July 10, 2008, 33 TexReg 5275