TITLE rule-review

Proposed Rule Reviews

Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission

Title 30, Part 1

The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (commission) proposes the intention to review Chapter 290, Subchapters B and C, Public Drinking Water. This review is proposed in accordance with Texas Government Code, §2001.039; and the General Appropriations Act, Article IX, §9-10.13, 76th Legislature, 1999, which require state agencies to review and consider for readoption each of their rules every four years. A review must include an assessment of whether the reasons for the rules continue to exist. The rules in Chapter 290, Subchapters D - G were reviewed and readopted under rule log number 1997-148-291-WT in January 1999.

The provisions in Chapter 290, Subchapters B and C set forth a uniform procedure for the administrative issuance of certificates of competency to waterworks personnel seeking compliance with state statutes regulating their operations. The provisions also describe the time and processing of permit applications for various water hygiene operations.

The commission has conducted a preliminary review of the rules in Chapter 290, Subchapters B and C and has determined that reasons for adopting these rules continue to exist. These rules are needed for compliance with EPA's requirements under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (42 United States Code, §§300f et seq.) and to implement provisions of state law including Health and Safety Code, §§341.031, 341.033, and 341.034 regarding Public Drinking Water, Protection of Public Water Supplies, and Water Supply System Operator Certificate of Competency; and Texas Government Code, §2005.003, regarding Permit Processing. The commission invites comments on whether the reasons for the rules in Chapter 290, Subchapters B and C continue to exist.

The commission's review of Chapter 290, Subchapters B and C has revealed provisions which require modification to improve program efficiency. The commission concurrently proposes to modify sections within Chapter 290, Subchapters B and C as described in the Proposed Rules section of this issue of the Texas Register . These changes are proposed as a result of the commission's rule review and for consistency with the commission's ongoing regulatory reform initiative. The specific changes are noted in the proposed rule preambles of Chapters 290 and 325. More specifically, however, the existing provisions in Chapter 290, Subchapters B and C are proposed to be repealed. The Chapter 290, Subchapters B and C provisions are still needed and are proposed, with changes, in new Chapter 325.

In coordination with the proposed repeals and new sections in Chapters 290 and 325 proposed concurrently with the rule review of Chapter 290, Subchapters B and C and the rule review of Chapter 325, a public hearing will be held in Austin on August 24, 2000, at 10:00 a.m. at the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission Complex in Building F, Room 3202A, located at 12100 Park 35 Circle. The hearing will be structured for the receipt of oral or written comments by interested persons. Individuals may present oral statements when called upon in order of registration. There will be no open discussion during the hearing; however, an agency staff member will be available to discuss the proposal 30 minutes prior to the hearing and will answer questions before and after the hearing.

Persons with disabilities who have special communication or other accommodation needs who are planning to attend the hearing should contact the Office of Environmental Policy, Analysis, and Assessment at (512) 239-4900. Requests should be made as far in advance as possible.

Comments may be submitted to Lisa Martin, Office of Environmental Policy, Analysis, and Assessment, MC 205, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087 or faxed to (512) 239-4808. All comments should reference Rule Log Number 1999-013-290-WT. Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m., August 28, 2000. For further information, please contact Juanita Lopez, (512) 239-6165 or Michelle Lingo, (512) 239-6757.

TRD-200004882

Margaret Hoffman

Director, Environmental Law Division

Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission

Filed: July 14, 2000


The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (commission) proposes the intention to review Chapter 325, Certificates of Competency. This review is proposed in accordance with Texas Government Code, §2001.039; and the General Appropriations Act, Article IX, §9-10.13, 76th Legislature, 1999, which require state agencies to review and consider for readoption each of their rules every four years. A review must include an assessment of whether the reasons for the rules continue to exist.

Chapter 325, Certificates of Competency, provides the standards and requirements for certification of wastewater operators and wastewater operations companies.

The commission has conducted a preliminary review of the rules under Chapter 325 and has determined that reasons for adopting these rules continue to exist. These rules are needed to implement provisions of state law including Texas Water Code, §26.0301 regarding Certificate of Competency. The commission invites comments on whether the reasons for the rules in Chapter 325 continue to exist.

The commission's review of Chapter 325 has also revealed provisions which require modification to improve program efficiency. In the Proposed Rules section of this issue of the Texas Register , the commission proposes repeal of existing Chapter 325 in accordance with the commission's ongoing regulatory reform initiative. The provisions are still needed and are proposed to be located in Chapter 325, with changes. The provisions currently in Chapter 290, Subchapters B and C are concurrently proposed for repeal. The proposed repeal of existing Chapter 325 will allow those provisions, along with the provisions of Chapter 290, Subchapters Band C, to be amended, reorganized, and proposed as new Chapter 325.

In coordination with the proposed repeals and new sections in Chapters 290 and 325 and proposed concurrently with the rule review of Chapter 290, Subchapters B and C and the rule review of Chapter 325, a public hearing will be held in Austin on August 24, 2000, at 10:00 a.m. at the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission Complex in Building F, Room 3202 A, located at 12100 Park 35 Circle. The hearing will be structured for the receipt of oral or written comments by interested persons. Individuals may present oral statements when called upon in order of registration. There will be no open discussion during the hearing; however, an agency staff member will be available to discuss the proposal 30 minutes prior to the hearing and will answer questions before and after the hearing.

Persons with disabilities who have special communication or other accommodation needs who are planning to attend the hearing should contact the Office of Environmental Policy, Analysis, and Assessment at (512) 239-4900. Requests should be made as far in advance as possible.

Comments may be submitted to Lisa Martin, Office of Environmental Policy, Analysis, and Assessment, MC 205, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087 or faxed to (512) 239-4808. All comments should reference Rule Log Number 1999-013-290-WT. Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m., August 28, 2000. For further information, please contact Juanita Lopez, (512) 239-6165 or Michelle Lingo, (512) 239-6757.

TRD-200004883

Margaret Hoffman

Director, Environmental Law Division

Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission

Filed: July 14, 2000


Board of Tax Professional Examiners

Title 22, Part 27

The Board of Tax Professional Examiners (BTPE) proposes the review of 22 TAC Chapter 630 Effective Dates and Chapter 631 Administrative Procedures.

As required by the Texas Government Code, §2001.039, the BTPE will accept comments as to whether the reason for adopting 22 TAC Chapter 630 Effective Dates and Chapter 631 Administrative Procedures, continues to exist. The comment period will last for 30 days beginning with the publication of this notice.

Comments or questions regarding this rule review may be submitted to David E. Montoya, Executive Director, Board of Tax Professional Examiners, 333 Guadalupe St, Tower 2, Suite 520, Austin, Texas 78701-3942, (512) 305-7300, or electronically to btpe@mail.capnet.state.tx.us.

TRD-200004838

David E. Montoya

Executive Director

Board of Tax Professional Examiners

Filed: July 13, 2000


Adopted Rule Reviews

Employees Retirement System of Texas

Title 34, Part 4

The Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) has completed its review of Chapter 79, concerning Social Security, in accordance with the Appropriations Act, Article IX, §9-10.13, passed by the 76th Texas Legislature. As a result of the review, a complete revision of the rules is currently in progress and will be published at a later date. The proposed review was published in the January 21, 2000, issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 397). No comments were received regarding this review.

TRD-200004872

Sheila W. Beckett

Executive Director

Employees Retirement System of Texas

Filed: July 13, 2000


General Services Commission

Title 1, Part 5

(Due to an error by the Texas Register the proposed review for Chapter 121 was published in the July 21, 2000 issue. The following adopted review for Chapter 121 should have been published.)

The General Services Commission (the "Commission") has completed the review of Title 1, Texas Administrative Code, Part 5, Chapter 121 (relating to the Telecommunications Services Division) as noticed in the May 12, 2000 issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 4357).

The Commission received no comments on the requirements of the Texas Government Code, §2001.039 (relating to Agency Review of Existing Rules) as to whether the reasons for adopting the rules continue to exist. As part of this review process, the Commission proposed amendments and new rules to Chapter 121 which were published in the May 12, 2000 issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 4256). The Commission received no comments concerning the proposed rule amendments and new rules. The adoption of the amendments and new rules to Chapter 121 may be found in the Adopted Rules Section of the July 21, 2000 issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 6977).

The Commission readopts 1 TAC Chapter 121 pursuant to the Texas Government Code, §2001.039 and finds that the reason for adopting Chapter 121 continues to exist.

TRD-20000103

Ann Dillon

General Counsel

General Services Commission

Filed: July 25, 2000


Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners

Title 22, Part 17

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners adopts the review of Chapter 365, concerning Licensing, pursuant to the Appropriations Act of 1977, House Bill 1, Article IX, §167 published in the June 9, 2000, issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 5542).

No comments were received regarding the adoption of the rule amendments.

TRD-200004906

Robert L. Maxwell

Acting Administrator

Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners

Filed: July 14, 2000


State Securities Board

Title 7, Part 7

Pursuant to the notice of proposed rule review published in the Texas Register (25 TexReg 1883), March 3, 2000, the State Securities Board (Board) has reviewed and considered for readoption, revision, or repeal, all sections of the following chapters of Title 7, Part VII of the Texas Administrative Code, in accordance with the General Appropriations Act, Article IX, Section 167, 75th Legislature (Section 167), and Texas Government Code, Section 2001.039 (Section 2001.039): Chapter 109, Transactions Exempt from Registration; Chapter 111, Securities Exempt from Registration; and Chapter 139, Exemptions by Rule or Order.

The Board considered, among other things, whether the reasons for adoption of these rules continue to exist. After its review, the Board finds that the reasons for adopting these rules continue to exist and readopts these chapters, without changes, pursuant to the requirements of Sections 167 and 2001.039.

No comments were received regarding the readoption of Chapters 109, 111, and 139.

This concludes the review for 7 TAC Chapters 109, 111, and 139.

TRD-200004930

Denise Voigt Crawford

Securities Commissioner

State Securities Board

Filed: July 17, 2000


Board of Tax Professional Examiners

Title 22, Part 27

The Board of Tax Professional Examiners (BTPE) adopts without changes 22 TAC Chapter 624, Education, Chapter 625, Standards for Professional Practice; Chapter 627, Assessor's Code of Ethics; Chapter 628, Ethical Conduct and Chapter 629, Penalties, Sanctions, and Hearings. Pursuant to the Board's Rule Review Plan required by and adopted under the Appropriations Act of 1997, House Bill 1, Article IX, §167. The proposed notice of review was published in the February 25, 2000, issue of the Texas Register .

No comments were received related to the rule review requirement as to whether the reason for adopting the rules continue to exist. The Board finds that the reason for readopting these rules continues to exist.

TRD-200004837

David E. Montoya

Executive Director

Board of Tax Professional Examiners

Filed: July 13, 2000