Printable Format66-106. Rules and regulations; assessment of costs; conferral with other authorities; agreements; contributions and grants; joint investigations, hearings, orders; state and federal proceedings; duties of attorney general. (a) The state corporation commission shall have power to adopt reasonable and proper rules and regulations to govern its proceedings, including the assessment and taxation of costs on any complaint provided for in K.S.A. 66-133, and amendments thereto, and to regulate the mode and manner of all investigations, tests, audits, inspections and hearings not specifically provided for herein, except that no person desiring to be present at any investigation or hearing by the commission shall be denied admission.
(b) The state corporation commission may:
(1) Confer with officers of other states and officers of the United States on any matter pertaining to the state corporation commission's official duties;
(2) (A) enter into and establish fair and equitable cooperative agreements or contracts with or act as an agent or licensee for the United States, or any official, agency or instrumentality thereof, or any railroad, public utility or similar commission of another state, for the purpose of carrying out the state corporation commission's duties; (B) to that end receive and disburse any contributions, grants or other financial assistance as a result of or pursuant to such agreements or contracts; and (C) make joint investigations, hold joint hearings within or outside the state and issue joint or concurrent orders in conjunction or concurrence with such official, agency, instrumentality or commission; and
(3) on its own, or in association with others with similar interests, intervene or otherwise participate in other state or federal proceedings on any matter the state corporation commission reasonably believes pertains to the commission's official duties. Upon conferral with the attorney general, the commission has discretion to file amicus briefs with any court within the state or federal government.
(c) The attorney general, when requested, shall give the state corporation commission or the attorney for the commission such counsel and advice as the commission or the attorney for the commission may from time to time require. It is hereby made the duty of the attorney general to aid and assist the commission and the attorney for the commission in all hearings, suits and proceedings in which the commission or attorney for the commission requests the attorney general's assistance.
History: R.S. 1923, 66-106; L. 1994, ch. 111, § 1; L. 2014, ch. 107, § 1; July 1.
Source or Prior Law:
L. 1905, ch. 340, § 6; L. 1911, ch. 238, § 9; Revised, 1923.
CASE ANNOTATIONS
1. Technical rules of pleadings inapplicable to applications or pleadings filed with commission. Community of Woodston v. State Corporation Comm., 186 Kan. 747, 752, 353 P.2d 206.
2. Mentioned; rules of commission are entitled to controlling significance as to when commission order is "made." Cities Service Gas Co. v. State Corporation Commission, 192 Kan. 707, 715, 391 P.2d 74.
3. Rules adopted by commission have force and effect of law; but a failure to conform to its rules and regulations renders an order unlawful. Cities Service Gas Co. v. State Corporation Commission, 201 Kan. 223, 229, 230, 440 P.2d 660.
4. Mentioned in upholding a commission order enlarging the certificate of authority of an electric public utility. Central Kansas Power Co. v. State Corporation Commission, 206 Kan. 670, 680, 482 P.2d 1.
5. Cited; subsequent order fixing future effective date for a previously authorized rate increase found reasonable and lawful. Sunflower Pipeline Co. v. Kansas Corporation Commission, 3 Kan. App. 2d 683, 685, 600 P.2d 794.
6. Statute not relevant to disclosure of evidence except insofar as presented publicly. Southwestern Bell Tel. Co. v. Kansas Corporation Commission, 6 Kan. App. 2d 444, 458, 629 P.2d 1174 (1981).