(a) The agency shall grant an opportunity for a public
hearing before adoption of any proposed rule as required by Government
Code, §2001.029(b), or other applicable statute.
(b) The hearing may be held by the agency head(s) or
by the administrative law judge or by any other person designated
by the agency head(s). In the exercise of discretion, the agency head(s)
may impose reasonable time limits on presentation of evidence and
argument, determine the order of the presentations, and conduct the
hearing in a manner suitable to the particular proceeding. Public
hearings on proposed rules are neither contested cases nor full legal
adversary proceedings. Ex parte prohibitions do not apply.
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