Section 1701.4.

(a) If the commission pursuant to Section 1701.1 has determined that a quasi-legislative case requires a hearing, the procedures prescribed by this section shall be applicable. The assigned administrative law judge shall act as an assistant to the assigned commissioner in quasi-legislative cases. The assigned commissioner shall be present for formal hearings. The assigned commissioner shall prepare the proposed rule or order with the assistance of the administrative law judge. The assigned commissioner shall present the proposed rule or order to the full commission in a public meeting. The report shall include the number of days of hearing and the number of days that the commissioner was present.

(b) Ex parte communications shall be permitted without any restrictions.

(c) Any party has the right to present a final oral argument of its case before the commission. Those requests shall be scheduled in a timely manner. A quorum of the commission shall be present for the final oral arguments.

(d) The commission may, in issuing its rule or order, adopt, modify, or set aside the proposed decision or any part of the rule or order. The final rule or order of the commission shall be issued not later than 60 days after the issuance of the proposed rule or order. Under extraordinary circumstances the commission may extend this date for a reasonable period. The 60-day period shall be extended for 30 days if any alternate rule or order is proposed pursuant to Section 311.

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 886, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1999.)