TITLE rule-review

Proposed Rule Reviews

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Title 30, Part 1

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (commission) files this notice of intention to review and proposes the readoption of Chapter 50, Action on Applications and Other Authorizations, without changes. The commission intends to consider correction of identified updates, consistency issues, and other needed changes during another rulemaking in the future.

This review of Chapter 50 is proposed in accordance with the requirements of Texas Government Code, §2001.039, which requires state agencies to review and consider for readoption each of their rules every four years. The review must include an assessment of whether the reasons for the rules continue to exist.

CHAPTER SUMMARY

Chapter 50 provides administrative procedures for action on applications and other authorizations. Subchapters A - C apply to applications that are declared administratively complete before September 1, 1999. These subchapters include procedures for commission actions on applications, action on applications by the executive director (ED), remanding for action by the ED, motions for rehearing or reconsideration, eligibility of the executive director to issue Texas pollutant discharge elimination system (TPDES) permits, withdrawing applications, and correcting permits. Subchapters E - G apply to applications that are declared administratively complete on or after September 1, 1999. These subchapters include procedures for referring contested case hearings to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, commission actions on applications, ED action on applications or Water Quality Management Plan updates, effective date for ED actions, remand for action by the ED, motions to overturn ED decisions, eligibility of the executive director to issue TPDES permits, withdrawing applications, and correcting permits.

PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF WHETHER THE REASONS FOR THE RULES CONTINUE TO EXIST

The commission conducted a preliminary review and determined that the reasons for the rules in Chapter 50 continue to exist. Chapter 50 implements Texas Water Code, §§5.101 - 5.131 and Texas Government Code, Chapter 2001. The rules are needed to provide opportunities for public participation by providing procedures for actions on applications and other authorizations.

PUBLIC COMMENT

This proposal is limited to the review in accordance with the requirements of Texas Government Code, §2001.039. The commission invites public comment on this preliminary review of the rules in Chapter 50. Comments may be submitted to Patricia Durón, 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 2003-024-050-AD. Comments must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m., June 23, 2003 . For further information or questions concerning this proposal, please contact Emily Barrett, Policy and Regulations Division, at (512) 239-3546.

TRD-200302973

Stephanie Bergeron

Director, Environmental Law Division

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Filed: May 13, 2003


Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Title 13, Part 1

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission proposes to review its rules in 13 TAC Chapter 7 concerning the operation of regional historical resource depositories and the retention, microfilming, and electronic storage of local government records pursuant to the requirements of the Government Code, §2001.039.

The rules were adopted pursuant to the Government Code, §441.006(a)(9) that requires the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to adopt policies to aid and encourage effective records management and preservation programs in local governments of the state; Government Code, §441.153(b) that requires the commission to adopt rules for Regional Historical Resource Depositories; Government Code, §441.158(a) that requires the commission to adopt local government records retention schedules by rule; Local Government Code, §204.004 that requires the commission to adopt rules establishing standards and procedures for microfilming local government records; and Local Government Code, §205.003 that requires the commission to adopt rules establishing standards and procedures for electronic storage of local government record data. The rules are necessary to carry out the statutory obligations of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission in the management of local government records.

Comments on the commission's review of its rules in Chapter 7 may be directed to Michael Heskett, Director, State and Local Records Management Division, Box 12927, Austin, Texas 78711-2927. For further information or questions concerning this proposal, please contact Mr. Heskett at (512) 454-2705 or at michael.heskett@tsl.state.tx.us.

TRD-200302850

Edward Seidenberg

Assistant State Librarian

Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Filed: May 8, 2003


Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation

Title 25, Part 2

The Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (TDMHMR) will review Texas Administrative Code Title 25, Part 2, Chapter 419, Subchapter G, concerning Medicaid Fair Hearings in accordance with the requirements of the Texas Government Code, §2001.039.

TDMHMR believes that the reasons for initially adopting the subchapter continue to exist.

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments concerning the review of this subchapter to Linda Logan, director, Policy Development, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, by mail to P.O. Box 12668, Austin, Texas 78711, or by fax to 512/206-4744, within 30 days of publication of this notice.

TRD-200302950

Rudy Arredondo

Chairman, TDMHMR Board

Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation

Filed: May 12, 2003


Texas Workers' Compensation Commission

Title 28, Part 2

The Texas Workers' Compensation Commission files this notice of intention to review the rules contained in chapter 42, concerning Medical Benefits Subchapter A, General Medical Provisions. This review is pursuant to the General Appropriations Act, Article IX, §167, 75th Legislature, the General Appropriations Act, Section 9-10, 76th Legislature, and Texas Government Code §2001.039 as added by SB-178, 76th Legislature.

The agency's reason for adopting the following rules contained in this chapter continues to exist and it proposes to readopt the following rules:

§42.5 Applicability and Scope of Rules

§42.10 Acceptance of Rules and Guidelines

§42.15 Definitions

§42.20 Who May Treat

§42.25 Prohibited Practices

§42.28 Confirmation of Coverage

§42.30 Written Communications

§42.33 Health Care Providers Reporting Requirements

§42.35 Required Reports: First Report

§42.40 Required Reports: Subsequent Reports

§42.55 Required Reports: Change of Status Reports

§42.60 Required Reports: Special Reports

§42.65 Changing Treating Doctors

§42.75 Excess Recovery from Third Party Actions

§42.78 Reports To Be Filed by the Carrier

§42.80 Assignment of Medical Benefits

§42.85 Voluntary Arbitration

§42.90 Demand for Surgical Operation

§42.95 Scars and Deformities

§42.101 Purpose

§42.105 Medical Fee Guideline

§42.115 Pharmaceutical Fee Guideline

§42.135 Liability for Covered Health Care

§42.137 Utilization Review

§42.140 Amount of Payment

§42.145 Billing

§42.155 Carrier Review of Bills

§42.160 Carrier Desk Audit of Bills

§42.165 Carrier On-Site Audit of Hospital Bills

§42.175 Miscellaneous Covered Services

§42.305 Requesting Dispute Review and Resolution

§42.307 Procedure for Requesting Dispute Review

§42.308 Procedure for Responding to a Request for Dispute Review

§42.309 Payment for the Review

§42.310 Board Review and Resolution

§42.315 Appeal

Comments regarding whether the reason for adopting these rules continues to exist must be received by 5:00 p.m. on June 23, 2003, and submitted to Nell Cheslock, Legal Services MS #4-D, Texas Workers' Compensation Commission, Southfield Building, 4000 South IH-35, Austin, Texas 78704-7491.

TRD-200302866

Susan Cory

General Counsel

Texas Workers' Compensation Commission

Filed: May 8, 2003


Adopted Rule Reviews

Railroad Commission of Texas

Title 16, Part 1

The Railroad Commission of Texas ("Commission") files this notice of completion of the review of §3.107, relating to Texas Experimental Research and Recovery Activity (TERRA). As part of this review process but in a separate proposal, the Commission has adopted the repeal of §3.107 because the statute authorizing this program no longer exists.

The Commission received no comments on the proposed repeal or review.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on May 6, 2003.

TRD-200302847

Mary Ross McDonald

Deputy General Counsel

Railroad Commission of Texas

Filed: May 8, 2003


The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) files this notice of completion of the review of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) rules. In a separate but concurrent rulemaking, the Commission adopts the repeal of the current LNG rules from 16 TAC Chapter 13, Subchapters G, H, and J through N, and adopts new LNG rules in 16 TAC new Chapter 14 in order to separate the LNG rules and the compressed natural gas (CNG) rules (which are found in 16 TAC Chapter 13, Subchapters A through F) into their own individual chapters to avoid confusion over having both fuels covered in one chapter. The proposed rule review covered the LNG rules only and was conducted in accordance with Texas Government Code, §2001.039. The Commission has determined that the reason for readopting the LNG rules, as adopted in the concurrent rulemaking for new Chapter 14, continues to exist.

The Commission received no comments on the proposed repeals, new sections, or review.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on May 6, 2003.

TRD-200302848

Mary Ross McDonald

Deputy General Counsel

Railroad Commission of Texas

Filed: May 8, 2003