Connecticut Regulations § 9-7b-17 Ex parte communication

(a) Unless required for the disposition ex parte of matters authorized by law, no Commissioner or hearing officer who, in a contested case, is to render a final decision or to make a proposed final decision shall communicate, directly or indirectly, in connection with any issue of fact with any person or party, or in connection with any issue of law with any party or his representative without notice and opportunity for all parties to participate.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (a) of this Section, any Commissioner or other person designated as a hearing officer and the Commissioners may severally communicate with other Commissioners regarding a matter pending before the Commission and the Commission or a hearing officer may receive the aid and advice of members of the Commission's staff as are assigned to assist them in such contested case. This regulation shall not be construed to preclude such routine communications as are necessary to permit the Commission's staff to investigate facts and to conduct informal staff conferences at any time before, during, and after the hearing of a contested case. A staff member who has not been assigned to provide technical assistance to the hearing officer may be designated to communicate with any party or his representative for purposes of effecting a compromise or voluntary resolution of a contested case.