DENIAL OF APPLICATION FOR PERMIT; ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY FORMER OR CURRENT EMPLOYEES.

(a) The commission shall deny an application for the issuance, amendment, renewal, or transfer of a permit and may not issue, amend, renew, or transfer the permit if the commission determines that:

(1) a former employee participated personally and substantially as an employee in the commission's review, evaluation, or processing of the application before leaving employment with the commission; and

(2) after leaving employment with the commission, that former employee provided assistance to the applicant for the issuance, amendment, renewal, or transfer of the permit, including assistance with preparation or presentation of the application or legal representation of the applicant.

(b) The commission or the executive director may not issue a federal operating permit for a solid waste incineration unit if a member of the commission or the executive director is also responsible in whole or in part for the design and construction or the operation of the unit.

(c) The commission shall provide an opportunity for a hearing to an applicant before denying an application under this section.

(d) Action taken under this section does not prejudice any application other than an application in which the former employee provided assistance.

(e) In this section, "former employee" means a person:

(1) who was previously employed by the commission as a supervisory or exempt employee; and

(2) whose duties during employment with the commission included involvement in or supervision of the commission's review, evaluation, or processing of applications.