SUBMISSION OF DEPOSITION TO WITNESS; SIGNATURE.

(a) A deposition in a contested case shall be submitted to the witness for examination after the testimony is fully transcribed and shall be read to or by the witness.

(b) The witness and the parties may waive in writing the examination and reading of a deposition under Subsection (a).

(c) If the witness is a party to the contested case pending before the agency with an attorney of record, the deposition officer shall notify the attorney of record in writing by registered or certified mail that the deposition is ready for examination and reading at the office of the deposition officer and that if the witness does not appear and examine, read, and sign the deposition before the 21st day after the date on which the notice is mailed, the deposition shall be returned as provided by this subchapter for unsigned depositions.

(d) A witness must sign a deposition at least three days before the date of the hearing or the deposition shall be returned as an unsigned deposition as provided by this subchapter.

(e) The officer taking a deposition shall enter on the deposition:

(1) a change in form or substance that the witness desires to make; and

(2) a statement of the reasons given by the witness for making the change.

(f) After the deposition officer has entered any change and a statement of reasons for the change on the deposition under Subsection (e), the witness shall sign the deposition unless:

(1) the parties present at the taking of the deposition by stipulation waive the signing;

(2) the witness is ill;

(3) the witness cannot be found; or

(4) the witness refuses to sign.

(g) If a deposition is not signed by the witness, the officer shall sign it and state on the record the fact of the witness's waiver, illness, absence, or refusal to sign and the reason given, if any, for failure to sign. The deposition may then be used as though signed by the witness.