2090

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 756

20.

(A)    THE COMMISSION SHALL CONDUCT ITS PROCEEDINGS

EN BANC OR IN PANELS OF NOT LESS THAN THREE

COMMISSIONERS. HOWEVER, THE COMMISSION MAY, AT ITS
DISCRETION, PROVIDE THAT ONE HEARING EXAMINER BE INCLUDED
ON A PANEL, IN LIEU OF A THIRD COMMISSIONER, IN ORDER TO
CONSTITUTE A PANEL OF THREE.

(B)    THE COMMISSION KAY DELEGATE TO A HEARING
EXAMINER THE AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT ANY PROCEEDING WITHIN
ITS JURISDICTION. IN EACH DELEGATED PROCEEDING, THE
HEARING EXAMINER SHALL CONDUCT THE HEARING AND ANY OTHER
PROCEEDING THAT HE MAY DEEM NECESSARY AND PREPARE AND
FILE WITH THE COMMISSION A PROPOSED ORDER, INCLUDING
FINDINGS OF FACT, WHICH SHALL BECOME FINAL UNLESS
APPEALED AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (C). THE PROPOSED
ORDER SHALL BE SERVED ON ALL PARTIES TO THE PROCEEDING
SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH ITS BEING FILED WITH THE COMMISSION.

(C)    ORDERS OF A PANEL CONSTITUTED UNDER
SUBPARAGRAPH (A) SHALL BE FINAL. A PROPOSED ORDER OF A
HEARING EXAMINER SHALL BECOME FINAL UNLESS, WITHIN 30
DAYS OF THE FILING OF THAT ORDER WITH THE COMMISSION, AN
APPEAL IS NOTED WITH THE COMMISSION BY ANY PARTY TO THE
PROCEEDING. FOLLOWING THE NOTING OF AN APPEAL, THE
COMMISSION PROMPTLY SHALL CONSIDER THE MATTER ON THE
RECORD BEFORE THE HEARING EXAMINER, CONDUCT ANY FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS (INCLUDING THE FILING OF BRIEFS AND THE
HOLDING OF ORAL ARGUMENT), IT DEEMS NECESSARY AND,
THEREAFTER, ISSUE A FINAL ORDER IN THE MATTER.

59A.

THE COMMISSION SHALL REQUIRE ALL PUBLIC SERVICE
COMPANIES SUBJECT TO ITS JURISDICTION WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF TAXICABS, RADIO COMMON CARRIERS, POWER BOAT COMPANIES,
TOLL BRIDGES, AND TOWING AND LIGHTERING COMPANIES TO
FORMULATE AND, AFTER APPROVAL, TO IMPLEMENT LONG-RANGE
PLANS FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICE. THE COMMISSION SHALL
REVIEW PLANS FOR ADEQUACY UNDER THE GENERAL STANDARDS OF
§ 56, GIVING ATTENTION TO THE INTERRELATIONSHIP OF
SERVICES OF OTHER PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANIES AND TO
PROVISIONS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO ASSURE
ADEQUATE SERVICE. UNLESS THE AUTHORITY TO REVIEW AND
APPROVE SUCH PLANS HAS BEEN GRANTED TO ANOTHER AGENCY OF
THE STATE BY ANOTHER PROVISION OF LAW, THE COMMISSION
SHALL REQUIRE ANY REVISIONS TO THOSE PLANS IT DEEMS
APPROPRIATE. AS PART OF THIS REVIEW, AND SUBJECT TO THE
EXCEPTIONS PROVIDED IN ANY APPLICABLE FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION ACT, THE COMMISSION SHALL CONSULT WITH OTHER
AGENCIES OF THE STATE AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT.

62A.

THE COMMISSION SHALL INITIATE AND CONDUCT ANY
INVESTIGATION NECESSARY TO THE EXECUTION OF ITS POWERS OR