§9-17-7. Oil and Gas Board - Rules of procedure for hearings, etc.; promulgation, etc., of rules, regulations or orders generally; promulgation, etc., of emergency rules, regulations or orders.

(a) The board shall prescribe its rules of order or procedure in hearings or other proceedings before it under this article.

(b) No rule, regulation or order, including any change, renewal or extension thereof, shall, in the absence of an emergency, be made by the board under the provisions of this article except after a public hearing upon at least 10 days notice, given in the manner and form as may be prescribed by the board. Such public hearing shall be held at such time and place and in such manner as may be prescribed by the board, and any person having any interest in the subject matter of the hearing shall be entitled to be heard.

(c) In the event an emergency is found to exist by the board which in its judgment requires the making, changing, renewal or extension of a rule, regulation or order without first having a hearing, such emergency rule, regulation or order shall have the same validity as if a hearing with respect to the same had been held after due notice. The emergency rule, regulation or order permitted by this subsection shall remain in force no longer than 45 days from its effective date and, in any event, it shall expire when the rule, regulation or order made after due notice and hearing with respect to the subject matter of such emergency rule, regulation or order becomes effective.

(d) Should the board elect to give notice by personal service, such service may be made by any officer authorized to serve process or by any agent of the board in the same manner as is provided by law for the service of summons in civil actions in the circuit courts of this state. Proof of the service by such agent shall be by the affidavit of the person making personal service.

(e) All rules, regulations and orders made by the board shall be in writing and shall be entered in full by the secretary of the board in a book to be kept for such purpose by the board, which shall be a public record and open to inspection at all times during reasonable office hours. A copy of any rule, regulation or order, certified by the secretary of the board, shall be received in evidence in all courts of this state with the same effect as the original.

(f) Any interested person shall have the right to have the board call a hearing for the purpose of taking action in respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the board by making a request therefor in writing. Upon the receipt of any such request, the board promptly shall call a hearing thereon and, after such hearing and with all convenient speed and in any event within 30 days after the conclusion of such hearing, shall take such action with regard to the subject matter thereof as it may deem appropriate.

(Acts 1945, No. 1, p. 1, §10; Acts 1965, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 79, p. 109, §1.)