R861-1A-30. Ex Parte Communications Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Sections 63G-4-203 and 63G-4-206

(1) No commissioner or administrative law judge shall make or knowingly cause to be made to any party to an appeal any communication relevant to the merits of a matter under appeal unless notice and an opportunity to be heard are afforded to all parties.

(2) No party shall make or knowingly cause to be made to any commissioner or administrative law judge an ex parte communication relevant to the merits of a matter under appeal for the purpose of influencing the outcome of the appeal. Discussion of procedural matters are not considered ex parte communication relevant to the merits of the appeal.

(3) A presiding officer may receive aid from staff assistants if:

(a) the assistants do not receive ex parte communications of a type that the presiding officer is prohibited from receiving, and,

(b) in an instance where assistants present information which augments the evidence in the record, all parties shall have reasonable notice and opportunity to respond to that information.

(4) Any commissioner or administrative law judge who receives an ex parte communication relevant to the merits of a matter under appeal shall place the communication into the case file and afford all parties an opportunity to comment on the information.