TITLE rule-review

Proposed Rule Review

Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation

Title 28, Part 2

The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation files this notice of intention to review the rules contained in Chapter 47 concerning Employee Notice of Injury or Death and Claim for Benefits. 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 Division's reason for adopting the following rules contained in this chapter continues to exist and it proposes to readopt these rules:

§47.5. Information Constituting Claim.

§47.10. Signature of Claimant.

§47.15. Employer Advances Compensation.

§47.20. Beneficiaries Filing Claim.

Comments regarding whether the reason for adopting these rules continues to exist must be received by 5:00 p.m. on September 3, 2006 and submitted to Kristi Dowding, Legal Services, Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation, 7551 Metro Center Drive, Suite 100, MS-4D, Austin, Texas 78744-1609.

TRD-200603926

Norma Garcia

General Counsel

Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation

Filed: July 26, 2006


Adopted Rule Reviews

Texas Education Agency

Title 19, Part 2

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) adopts the review of 19 TAC Chapter 89, Adaptations for Special Populations, Subchapter AA, Commissioner's Rules Concerning Special Education Services; Subchapter BB, Commissioner's Rules Concerning State Plan for Educating Limited English Proficient Students; Subchapter CC, Commissioner's Rules Concerning Adult and Community Education; Subchapter DD, Commissioner's Rules Concerning High School Equivalency Programs; and Subchapter EE, Commissioner's Rules Concerning the Communities In Schools Program, pursuant to the Texas Government Code, §2001.039. The TEA proposed the review of 19 TAC Chapter 89 in the March 10, 2006, issue of the Texas Register (31 TexReg 1737).

Relating to the review of 19 TAC Chapter 89, Subchapter AA, the TEA finds that the reasons for adopting Subchapter AA continue to exist and that the rules should be readopted. The TEA will propose changes to Subchapter AA at a later date in order to align the rules with federal regulations associated with the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Education Act (IDEA 2004). Once federal regulations have been issued, proposed commissioner's rules will also reflect the required technical edits, additions, and deletions.

Relating to the review of 19 TAC Chapter 89, Subchapter BB, the TEA finds that the reasons for adopting Subchapter BB continue to exist and that the rules should be readopted, with the exception of 19 TAC §89.1260, Monitoring of Programs and Enforcing Law and Commissioner's Rules. The TEA will repeal 19 TAC §89.1260 in accordance with House Bill 3459, 78th Texas Legislature. The repeal will reflect statutory changes from the use of onsite program compliance monitoring to performance based monitoring indicators. The TEA will also propose changes to Subchapter BB to bring the rules into alignment with House Bill 1 legislation passed by the 79th Texas Legislature, Third Called Session, which addresses bilingual education programs.

Relating to the review of 19 TAC Chapter 89, Subchapter CC, the TEA finds that the reasons for adopting Subchapter CC continue to exist and that the rule should be readopted. The TEA is proposing no changes to Subchapter CC at this time.

Relating to the review of 19 TAC Chapter 89, Subchapter DD, the TEA finds that the reasons for adopting Subchapter DD continue to exist and that the rules should be readopted. As a result of its review, the TEA proposed changes to Subchapter DD to clarify conditions for students to be eligible to participate in the high school equivalency program and required assessments of these students. This proposal was published in the June 16, 2006, issue of the Texas Register (31 TexReg 4825).

Relating to the review of 19 TAC Chapter 89, Subchapter EE, the TEA finds that the reasons for adopting Subchapter EE continue to exist and that the rules should be readopted. The TEA will propose changes to Subchapter EE at a later date in order to provide clarification regarding funding.

The TEA received one comment relating to the rule review of 19 TAC Chapter 89, Subchapter AA.

Comment. An individual requested that the TEA review the graduation requirements in 19 TAC §89.1070(i) to clarify what must occur when a student who has graduated comes back to request additional services. The individual expressed their opinion that the current rule is confusing and does not clearly address whether such students are automatically entitled to come back to receive services or what happens if the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee determines that there are no "needed educational services" for the student. The individual recommended that subsection (i) be deleted and that subsection (a) be revised to reflect that graduation under any subsection terminates a student's eligibility for special education services.

Agency response. The TEA disagrees. 19 TAC §89.1070 is consistent with 34 CFR §300.122. Under §89.1070, the ARD committee is responsible for determining whether a student with a disability is eligible to graduate from high school. Pursuant to subsection (i), the ARD committee also determines whether students who graduate under subsection (c) need additional services in order to receive a free appropriate public education. In addition, students who graduate under subsection (c) and return to school continue to be eligible for funding as referenced in subsection (a). Adult students, or parents authorized to act on behalf of students, can pursue their disagreements with ARD committee decisions through dispute resolution. Section 89.1070 will be reviewed and revised, if necessary, once federal regulations subsequent to the 2004 reauthorization of the IDEA 2004 are issued.

The TEA received no comments related to the rule review requirement for 19 TAC Chapter 89, Subchapters BB - EE.

This concludes the review of 19 TAC Chapter 89.

TRD-200603830

Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez

Director, Policy Coordination

Texas Education Agency

Filed: July 20, 2006


Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles

Title 37, Part 5

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles files this notice of readoption of 37 TAC Chapter 145, relating to Parole. The Board amended §145.16 for the purpose of updating the language of the section title and to clarify the procedures regarding subsequent reviews of parole panel votes to approve release to parole or mandatory supervision; §145.17 for the purpose of updating the language of the section title and to clarify the procedures regarding subsequent reviews of parole panel votes to deny release to parole or mandatory supervision with one change to specify who may submit a request for special review; §145.3 for the purpose of updating the cross references to §145.17 and clarifying the language of the rule; and §145.21 for the purpose of updating the cross references to §145.16 and §145.17 in the language of the rule. The readoption of Chapter 145 is filed in accordance with the Board of Pardons and Paroles' Notice of Intent to Review published in the June 9, 2006 issue of the Texas Register (31 TexReg 4740). No public comments were received.

The assessment of Chapter 145 indicates that the original justification for the rules continues to exist, and the Board is readopting the rules in accordance with Texas Government Code, §2001.039. This concludes the review of 37 TAC Chapter 145.

TRD-200603864

Laura McElroy

General Counsel

Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles

Filed: July 21, 2006


Texas Water Development Board

Title 31, Part 10

Pursuant to the notice of proposed rule review published in the June 2, 2006, issue of the Texas Register (31 TexReg 4663), the Texas Water Development Board (board) has reviewed and considered for readoption, revision or repeal 31 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Part 10, Chapter 368, Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, in accordance with the Texas Government Code, §2001.039.

The board considered, among other things, whether the reasons for adoption of these rules continue to exist. No comments were received on the proposed rule review.

As a result of the review, the board determined that the rules are still necessary and readopts the sections because it governs the Board's responsibilities for administering the program. As a result of the review, the board concurrently adopts amendments to §§368.1, 368.5, and 368.10. The amendments are adopted for clarification consistent with directives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This completes the board's review of 31 TAC Chapter 368, Flood Mitigation Assistance Program.

TRD-200603825

Jonathan Steinberg

Deputy Counsel

Texas Water Development Board

Filed: July 19, 2006