Sec. 361.0831.  EX PARTE CONTACTS PROHIBITED.  (a)  Unless required for the disposition of ex parte matters authorized by law, or unless permitted by Section 2001.061, Government Code, a hearings examiner may not communicate, directly or indirectly, with any employee of the commission, any commissioner, or any party to a hearing conducted by the commission in connection with any issue of fact or law pertaining to a contested case in which the commission or party is involved.
(b)  Except for communications allowed under Subsection (a), an employee of the commission, a commissioner, or a party to a hearing conducted by the commission may not attempt to influence the finding of facts or the application of law or rules by a hearings examiner except by proper evidence, pleadings, and legal argument with notice and opportunity for all parties to participate.
(c)  If a prohibited contact is made, the hearings examiner shall notify all parties with a summary of that contact and notice of their opportunity to respond and shall give all parties an opportunity to respond.
Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 296, Sec. 1.08, eff. June 7, 1991.  Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 177, Sec. 1, eff. May 17, 1993;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 5.95(56), eff. Sept. 1, 1995;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 106, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.