Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE |
Title 5. SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY |
Subtitle B. SOLID WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, SEWAGE, LITTER, AND WATER |
Chapter 361. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT |
Subchapter C. PERMITS |
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.