| (a) The Department shall grant an opportunity for a
public hearing before adoption of any substantive rule as required
by Government Code, §2001.029(b), or other applicable statute.
(b) The hearing may be held by the commissioner or
by any other person designated by the commissioner. In the exercise
of discretion, the commissioner 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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