TITLE 40.SOCIAL SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE

Part 1. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Chapter 44. COMMUNITY CARE FOR AGED AND DISABLED PROJECT CHOICE

The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) adopts the repeal of all the rules in Chapter 44, §§44.1, 44.101 - 44.104, and 44.201 - 44.207, without changes to the proposal published in the February 7, 2003, issue of the Texas Register (28 TexReg 1156).

Justification for the repeals is to eliminate an obsolete rule chapter from the DHS rule base. Beginning in 1999, DHS operated two small client services programs in pilot sites as part of Project CHOICE (Consumers Have Options for Independence in Community Environments), which was funded by a grant to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Project CHOICE ended when grant funding ceased in 2000. DHS, therefore, no longer needs the rules governing this discontinued program in its rule base.

DHS received no comments regarding adoption of the repeals.

Subchapter A. DEFINITIONS

40 TAC §44.1

The repeal is adopted under the Human Resources Code, Chapters 22 and 32, which authorizes DHS to administer public and medical assistance programs, and under Government Code, §531.021, which provides HHSC with the authority to administer federal medical assistance funds.

The repeal implements the Human Resources Code, §§22.0001 - 22.038 and §§32.001 - 32.053.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 2, 2003.

TRD-200302187

Paul Leche

General Counsel, Legal Services

Texas Department of Human Services

Effective date: April 22, 2003

Proposal publication date: February 7, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3734


Subchapter B. TRANSITION TO LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM

40 TAC §§44.101 - 44.104

The repeals are adopted under the Human Resources Code, Chapters 22 and 32, which authorizes DHS to administer public and medical assistance programs, and under Government Code, §531.021, which provides HHSC with the authority to administer federal medical assistance funds.

The repeals implement the Human Resources Code, §§22.0001 - 22.038 and §§32.001 - 32.053.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 2, 2003.

TRD-200302188

Paul Leche

General Counsel, Legal Services

Texas Department of Human Services

Effective date: April 22, 2003

Proposal publication date: February 7, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3734


Subchapter C. PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY THROUGH THE PROJECT CHOICE PROGRAM

40 TAC §§44.201 - 44.207

The repeals are adopted under the Human Resources Code, Chapters 22 and 32, which authorizes DHS to administer public and medical assistance programs, and under Government Code, §531.021, which provides HHSC with the authority to administer federal medical assistance funds.

The repeals implement the Human Resources Code, §§22.0001 - 22.038 and §§32.001 - 32.053.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 2, 2003.

TRD-200302189

Paul Leche

General Counsel, Legal Services

Texas Department of Human Services

Effective date: April 22, 2003

Proposal publication date: February 7, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3734


Part 2. TEXAS REHABILITATION COMMISSION

Chapter 104. DUE PROCESS HEARINGS, AND MEDIATION BY APPLICANTS/CLIENTS OF DETERMINATIONS BY AGENCY PERSONNEL THAT AFFECT THE PROVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES

The Texas Rehabilitation Commission (TRC) adopts amendments to Chapter 104 of Title 40, Texas Administrative Code, concerning due process hearings and mediation. This adoption amends §§104.1-104.3, repeals §§104.4-104.9 and adds new §§104.4-104.8, without changes to the proposed text as published in the February 7, 2003, issue of the Texas Register (28 TexReg 1158) and will not be republished.

The amendments are adopted to eliminate the distinction between formal and informal appeal procedures, and to re-designate the procedures as "due process hearings" in accordance with terminology in final rules effective January 22, 2001 issued by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, US Department of Education, published at 34 CFR §361.57.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the rules.

40 TAC §§104.1 - 104.3

The amendments are adopted under the Texas Human Resources Code, Title 7, Chapter 111, §111.018 and §111.023, which provides the Texas Rehabilitation Commission with the authority to promulgate rules consistent with Title 7, Texas Human Resources Code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 7, 2003.

TRD-200302284

Sylvia F. Hardman

Deputy Commissioner for Legal Services

Texas Rehabilitation Commission

Effective date: April 27, 2003

Proposal publication date: February 7, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 424-4050


Chapter 104. INFORMAL APPEALS, AND MEDIATION BY APPLICANTS/CLIENTS OF DETERMINATIONS BY AGENCY PERSONNEL THAT AFFECT THE PROVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES

40 TAC §§104.4 - 104.9

The repeals are adopted under the Texas Human Resources Code, Title 7, Chapter 111, §111.018 and §111.023, which provides the Texas Rehabilitation Commission with the authority to promulgate rules consistent with Title 7, Texas Human Resources Code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 7, 2003.

TRD-200302285

Sylvia F. Hardman

Deputy Commissioner for Legal Services

Texas Rehabilitation Commission

Effective date: April 27, 2003

Proposal publication date: February 7, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 424-4050


Chapter 104. DUE PROCESS HEARINGS, AND MEDIATION BY APPLICANTS/CLIENTS OF DETERMINATIONS BY AGENCY PERSONNEL THAT AFFECT THE PROVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES

40 TAC §§104.4 - 104.8

The new sections are adopted under the Texas Human Resources Code, Title 7, Chapter 111, §111.018 and §111.023, which provides the Texas Rehabilitation Commission with the authority to promulgate rules consistent with Title 7, Texas Human Resources Code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 7, 2003.

TRD-200302286

Sylvia F. Hardman

Deputy Commissioner for Legal Services

Texas Rehabilitation Commission

Effective date: April 27, 2003

Proposal publication date: February 7, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 424-4050


Chapter 106. PURCHASE OF GOODS AND SERVICES BY TEXAS REHABILITATION COMMISSION

The Texas Rehabilitation Commission (TRC) adopts a change to Title 40, Chapter 106, Subchapters A (General), §106.31, D (Purchase of Goods and Services), §106.105, K (Historically Underutilized Businesses), §106.353 and §106.355, M (Miscellaneous Requirements), §106.451, and N (General Requirements for Contractors) §106.459, concerning purchase of goods and services by TRC, without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 27, 2002, issue of the Texas Register (27 TexReg 12175) and will not be republished.

The change is necessary to make technical corrections to the text of the rules.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the rules.

Subchapter A. GENERAL

40 TAC §106.31

The amendment is adopted under the Texas Human Resources Code, Title 7, Chapter 111, §111.018 and §111.023, which provides the Texas Rehabilitation Commission with the authority to promulgate rules consistent with Title 7, Texas Human Resources Code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 7, 2003.

TRD-200302288

Sylvia F. Hardman

Deputy Commissioner for Legal Services

Texas Rehabilitation Commission

Effective date: April 27, 2003

Proposal publication date: December 27, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 424-4050


Subchapter D. PURCHASE OF GOODS AND SERVICES

40 TAC §106.105

The amendment is adopted under the Texas Human Resources Code, Title 7, Chapter 111, §111.018 and §111.023, which provides the Texas Rehabilitation Commission with the authority to promulgate rules consistent with Title 7, Texas Human Resources Code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 7, 2003.

TRD-200302289

Sylvia F. Hardman

Deputy Commissioner for Legal Services

Texas Rehabilitation Commission

Effective date: April 27, 2003

Proposal publication date: December 27, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 424-4050


Subchapter K. HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES

40 TAC §106.353, §106.355

The amendment is adopted under the Texas Human Resources Code, Title 7, Chapter 111, §111.018 and §111.023, which provides the Texas Rehabilitation Commission with the authority to promulgate rules consistent with Title 7, Texas Human Resources Code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 27, 2003.

TRD-200302290

Sylvia F. Hardman

Deputy Commissioner for Legal Services

Texas Rehabilitation Commission

Effective date: April 27, 2003

Proposal publication date: December 27, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 424-4050


Subchapter M. MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS

40 TAC §106.451

The amendment is adopted under the Texas Human Resources Code, Title 7, Chapter 111, §111.018 and §111.023, which provides the Texas Rehabilitation Commission with the authority to promulgate rules consistent with Title 7, Texas Human Resources Code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 7, 2003.

TRD-200302291

Sylvia F. Hardman

Deputy Commissioner for Legal Services

Texas Rehabilitation Commission

Effective date: April 27, 2003

Proposal publication date: December 27, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 424-4050


Subchapter N. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

40 TAC §106.459

The amendment is adopted under the Texas Human Resources Code, Title 7, Chapter 111, §111.018 and §111.023, which provides the Texas Rehabilitation Commission with the authority to promulgate rules consistent with Title 7, Texas Human Resources Code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 7, 2003.

TRD-200302292

Sylvia F. Hardman

Deputy Commissioner for Legal Services

Texas Rehabilitation Commission

Effective date: April 27, 2003

Proposal publication date: December 27, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 424-4050


Part 6. TEXAS COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING

Chapter 182. SPECIALIZED TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Subchapter B. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

40 TAC §182.28

The Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing adopts new §182.28, concerning Incomplete Applicant Files without changes to the text as published in the December 6, 2002, issue of the Texas Register (27 TexReg 11496).

This rule will reduce the length of time a voucher is valid.

No comments were received regarding the new section.

The new section is adopted under the Human Resources Code, §81.006(b)(3), which provides the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with the authority to remove from the processing system an incomplete applicant file when no response is received.

No other statute, code or article is affected by the new section.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 4, 2003.

TRD-200302210

David Myers

Executive Director

Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Effective date: April 24, 2003

Proposal publication date: December 6, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 407-3250