TITLE 1. ADMINISTRATION

PART 7. STATE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

CHAPTER 155. RULES OF PROCEDURE

SUBCHAPTER D. JUDGES

1 TAC §155.157

The State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) adopts an amendment to Subchapter D, Judges, §155.157, concerning Sanctioning Authority. Section 155.157 is adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the May 8, 2009, issue of the Texas Register (34 TexReg 2732) and will not be republished. The amendment is adopted to clarify subsection (a) paragraph (1). Specifically, SOAH deleted subparagraphs (D) and (E) of paragraph (1) and inserted the wording deleted from those subparagraphs into two new paragraphs, (2) and (3), in subsection (a).

The adopted amendment is necessary because in the prior language, the rule described a separate basis for sanctions instead of describing an improper motion as intended by paragraph (1).

No comments were received during the 30-day comment period.

The amendment is adopted under Government Code, Chapter 2003, which authorizes the State Office of Administrative Hearings to conduct contested case hearings, Government Code, Chapter 2001, §2001.004, which requires agencies to adopt rules of practice setting forth the nature and requirements of formal and informal procedures, and §2003.050, which requires SOAH to adopt rules governing the procedures, including discovery procedures, that relate to a hearing conducted by SOAH.

The adopted amendment affects Government Codes, Chapters 2001 and 2003.

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 June 18, 2009.

TRD-200902473

Kerry D. Sullivan

General Counsel

State Office of Administrative Hearings

Effective date: July 8, 2009

Proposal publication date: May 8, 2009

For further information, please call: (512) 475-4931