§269-3  Employment of assistants.  (a)  The chairperson of the public utilities commission may appoint and employ professional staff and other assistants for the public utilities commission as the chairperson finds necessary for the performance of the commission's functions and define their powers and duties.  The chairperson may appoint and, at pleasure, dismiss a chief administrator and attorneys as may be necessary, and who shall be exempt from chapter 76.  The chairperson may also appoint other staff with or without regard to chapter 76.

     (b)  Notwithstanding section 91-13, the commission may consult with its assistants appointed under authority of this section in any contested case or agency hearing concerning any issue of facts.  Neither the commission nor any of its assistants shall in such proceeding consult with any other person or party except upon notice and an opportunity for all parties to participate, save to the extent required for the disposition of ex parte matters authorized by law. [L 1913, c 89, §2; RL 1925, §2190; am L 1933, c 141, §2; RL 1945, §4703; am L 1949, c 179, §1; RL 1955, §104-3; am imp L 1963, c 21, §1 and c 114, §3; HRS §269-3; am L 1972, c 118, §2; am L 1976, c 165, §2; am L 1983, c 219, §4; am L 1985, c 292, §1; gen ch 1985; am L 1989, c 178, §1; am L 1991, c 57, §4; gen ch 1993; am L Sp 1993, c 8, §53; am L 2000, c 253, §150; am L 2006, c 143, §1; am L 2007, c 177, §3; am L 2013, c 104, §2]

 

Note

 

  Restructuring of operations, etc.  L 2007, c 177, §4; L 2013, c 104, §4.