No agency or state officer, other than the chief administrative hearing officer, shall attempt to influence the selection of a hearing officer for a contested case proceeding or any other matter, except mediations, and the chief administrative hearing officer shall not permit any such influence; provided that agencies and state officers may inform the office of administrative hearings in writing of their views regarding:
(1) Expertise needed or desired with respect to types of potential contested cases;(2) Proposed rules under consideration for adoption by the office of administrative hearings;(3) Legislation or rules under consideration or being proposed by the office of administrative hearings;(4) Legislation or rules under consideration or being proposed by such agencies or state officers; and(5) Alleged violations of the code of conduct.Added by 2022 Session Laws, ch. 287, sec. 9, eff. 7/1/2022.