1. (a) A department employee assigned under AS 44.33.020(a)(4) as a member of the commission staff serves as an advisor. The advisory staff may not act in an advocacy capacity as a petitioner under 3 AAC 110.410.

2. (b) During a proceeding, the advisory staff to the commission may provide technical assistance, information, and forms to petitioners, respondents, and interested persons who have procedural questions regarding local government or boundary issues. If the commissioner, a department subdivision, or a department employee not assigned under AS 44.33.020(a)(4) to the commission's advisory staff serves in an official capacity as a petitioner in a case before the commission,

   1. (1) communications with the commission's advisory staff regarding the case are subject to the limitations of this subsection and 3 AAC 110.500; and
   2. (2) communications with members of the commission are subject to the ex parte limitations of 3 AAC 110.500.
3. (c) Nothing in this section limits the role and ability of the commission's advisory staff to ensure that the commission is fully and accurately informed by providing to the commission new or additional information that supplements, questions, or refutes information provided by, or a position taken by, a petitioner, respondent, or other person.

(Eff. 1/9/2008, Register 185)