HAR §10-5-14. Ex parte communications

In any proceeding to be determined by the commission after the notice and hearing and upon a record: (1) No person, either in private life or public life, shall communicate privately on the merits of the case to any member of the commission or its staff or to the hearing officer designated to hear and decide the matter unless specifically provided by law; (2) No member of the commission's staff or any other governmental agency who participates in the hearing as a witness or counsel shall communicate privately on the merits of the case to a member of the commission or to the hearing officer designated to hear and decide the matter, unless specifically provided by law; and (3) It shall be improper for any person interested in a case to seek to sway the §10-5-14 5-8 judgment of the commission by attempting to influence or bring pressure to bear upon any member of the commission or its staff, or for such person or any member of the commission's staff directly or indirectly to give statements to the press, radio, or television, via paid advertisements or otherwise, designed to influence the commission's judgment in the case. [Eff 7/30/81; am and comp 10/26/98] (Auth: HRS §91-2) (Imp: HRS §91-2) §