Employment Restrictions; Civil Penalty

(a) A person who serves as (1) a commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission, (2) commissioner of commerce, or (3) deputy commissioner of commerce, shall not, while employed with or within one year after leaving the commission or department, accept employment with, receive compensation directly or indirectly from, or enter into a contractual relationship with an entity, or an affiliated company of an entity, that is subject to rate regulation by the commission. (b) An entity or an affiliated company of an entity that is subject to rate regulation by the commission, or a person acting on behalf of the entity, shall not negotiate or offer to employ or compensate a commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission, the commissioner of commerce, or the deputy commissioner of commerce, while the person is so employed or within one year after the person leaves that employment. (c) For the purposes of this section, "affiliated company" means a company that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with an entity subject to rate regulation by the commission. (d) A person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each violation. The attorney general may bring an action in district court to collect the penalties provided in this section.