K.S.A. § 55-706 (2026)
Proceedings before commission upon petition; designation of certain officers or employees to conduct investigations and hearings; powers; findings and recommendations
55-706. Proceedings before commission upon petition; designation of certain officers or employees to conduct investigations and hearings; powers; findings and recommendations. (a) Proceedings may be instituted before the commission upon petition of any interested party, or by the attorney general on behalf of the state, or on the motion of the commission, upon any question relating to the enforcement of this act or the promulgation, revocation, amendment, renewal, interpretation, extension, or the enforcement of any rule, regulation or order, or the determination of any right thereunder, in the manner provided in K.S.A. 55-605, and amendments thereto.
(b) The state corporation commission is hereby authorized to designate or appoint its director of petroleum conservation or its assistant director of petroleum conservation or one of its attorneys as an examiner or referee to make investigations and conduct hearings that are required of the commission by this act. Such investigations and hearings shall be made and conducted in the same manner as by the commission. Such examiners and referees shall have the power to administer oaths and to subpoena witnesses. The commission may provide for a record to be made of any hearing or investigation. Such examiners and referees shall submit their findings and recommendations in writing to the commission.
History: L. 1935, ch. 213, § 6; L. 1945, ch. 233, § 8; L. 1957, ch. 317, § 2; L. 1984, ch. 203, § 2; July 1.
CASE ANNOTATIONS
1. Commission's order refusing to reinstate canceled underages upheld. Republic Natural Gas Co. v. State Corporation Commission, 173 Kan. 172, 173, 244 P.2d 1196.
2. Mentioned; party aggrieved by commission's order must follow statutory procedure. Columbian Fuel Corp. v. Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co., 176 Kan. 433, 434, 271 P.2d 773.
3. Mentioned; procedure to challenge validity of commission's order; original, independent action unauthorized. Kansas-Nebraska Natural Gas Co. v. State Corporation Commission, 176 Kan. 561, 566, 271 P.2d 1091.
4. Allowable order ineffective as to landowner not notified by mail of hearing. Day v. State Corporation Commission, 185 Kan. 165, 167, 341 P.2d 1028. Modified on rehearing: 185 Kan. 382, 345 P.2d 651.
5. Special proration order conflicting with basic proration order is erroneous and unlawful. Stevens v. State Corporation Commission, 185 Kan. 190, 191, 192, 200, 341 P.2d 1021; Day v. State Corporation Commission, 185 Kan. 165, 341 P.2d 1048; Matzen v. State Corporation Commission, 185 Kan. 206, 341 P.2d 1031. Modified in denying rehearing: 185 Kan. 404, 345 P.2d 630.
6. Cited; KCC order amending basic proration order for Kansas Hugoton gas field to allow infill drilling examined. Southwest Kan. Royalty Owners Ass'n v. Kansas Corporation Comm'n, 244 Kan. 157, 174, 769 P.2d 1 (1989).
7. Argument by party that KCC adopted extension of time to produce canceled underage without notice fails. Mobil Exploration & Producing U.S. Inc. v. Kansas Corporation Comm'n, 258 Kan. 796, 842, 908 P.2d 1276 (1995).