(a) No member of the commission may communicate ex parte, directly or indirectly, with any applicant, or any agent, representative, or person acting on behalf of an applicant, upon the merits of an application for a license, permit, registration, or approval while the application is being investigated by the department or pending disposition before the department or the commission.
(b) No applicant, or any agent, representative, or person acting on behalf of an applicant, and no person who has a direct or indirect interest in the outcome of a proceeding to consider an application for a license, permit, registration, or approval may communicate ex parte, directly or indirectly, with any member of the commission, upon the merits of the application while the application is being investigated by the department or pending disposition before the department.
(c) No employee or agent of the department, applicant, or any agent, representative, or person acting on behalf of an applicant, and no person who has a direct or indirect interest in the outcome of a proceeding to consider an application for a license, permit, registration, or approval may communicate ex parte, directly or indirectly, with any member of the commission, upon the merits of the application, while the application is pending disposition before the commission.
(d) The receipt by a member of the commission of an ex parte communication prohibited by this section may provide the basis for disqualification of that member or the denial of the application. The commission shall adopt regulations to implement this subdivision.
(e) For the purposes of this subdivision, “ex parte” means a communication without notice and opportunity for all parties to participate in the communication.
(f) Nothing in this section precludes a communication made on the record at a public hearing on a properly agendized matter.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 47. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)