FAILURE TO APPEAR; COSTS.

(a) If a respondent receives proper notice of a contested case hearing but does not appear in person at the hearing, the administrative law judge may conduct the hearing or enter an order, as the administrative law judge determines appropriate.

(b) The respondent is bound by the results of the hearing to the same extent as if the respondent had appeared.

(c) The administrative law judge may award reasonable costs to the commission on a request for and proof of costs incurred if the respondent fails to appear at the hearing. In this subsection, the term "costs" means all costs associated with the hearing, including the costs charged by the State Office of Administrative Hearings and any costs related to hearing preparation, discovery, depositions, subpoenas, service of process, witness expenses, travel expenses, and investigation expenses.