TITLE social-services-and-assistance

Part I. Texas Department of Human Services

Chapter 3. Income Assistance Services

Subchapter NN. Electronic Benefit Transfer

40 TAC §3.4007

The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) adopts an amendment to §3.4007, in its Income Assistance Services chapter. The amendment is adopted without changes to the proposed text published in the January 1, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 96) and will not be republished.

The justification for the amendment is to allow benefits to be issued in various ways in the event the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) System is unavailable for more than three days due to a natural disaster, emergency, or major crisis of the EBT System.

The amendment will function by ensuring that benefits can still be used in retail stores even if the EBT System is unavailable.

The department received no comments regarding adoption of the amendment.

The amendment is adopted under the Human Resources Code, Title 2, Chapters 22 and 31, which provides the department with the authority to administer public and financial assistance programs.

The amendment implements the Human Resources Code, §§22.001-22.030 and §§31.001-31.0325.

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 February 8, 1999.

TRD-9900810

Paul Leche

General Counsel, Legal Services

Texas Department of Human Services

Effective date: March 1, 1999

Proposal publication date: January 1, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3765


Part IV. Texas Commission for the Blind

Chapter 159. Administrative Rules and Procedures

Subchapter B. Fair Hearing Procedures for Resolution of Client Dissatisfaction

40 TAC §159.21

The Texas Commission for the Blind adopts the repeal of §159.21, pertaining to Appeals Process, Reviews, and Hearings, without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 4, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 12256).

The repeal is adopted to allow the agency to simultaneously adopt new and improved rules for appeals within the Blind and Visually Impaired Children's Program. The new rules are in Chapter 161 of this title (relating to Appeals and Hearing Procedures).

The Commission received no comments regarding the proposal.

The repeal is adopted under the authority of Human Resources Code, Title 5, Chapter 91, §91.011, which authorizes the commission to adopt rules prescribing the policies and procedures followed by the commission in the administration of its programs.

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 February 10, 1999.

TRD-9900852

Terrell I. Murphy

Executive Director

Texas Commission for the Blind

Effective date: March 2, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 4, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 459-2611


Chapter 161. Appeals and Hearing Procedures

Subchapter B. Blind and Visually Impaired Children's Program

40 TAC §§161.60-161.68

The Texas Commission for the Blind adopts new §§161.60-161.68, pertaining to Appeals and Hearing Procedures without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 4, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 12256). The adopted text will not be republished.

The rules will serve as the procedures available to parents whose children have applied for or are receiving services from the agency's Blind and Visually Impaired Children's Program. The rules specify the determinations that may be appealed, the method for requesting an informal review of the determination, the method for requesting a formal hearing to contest the determination, the procedures that will be followed in both types of appeal, and the time frames in which decisions will be made.

The Commission received no comments regarding the proposal.

The rules are adopted under the authority of Human Resources Code, Title 5, Chapter 91, §91.011(g), which authorizes the commission to adopt rules prescribing the policies and procedures followed by the commission in the administration of its programs.

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 February 10, 1999.

TRD-9900853

Terrell I. Murphy

Executive Director

Texas Commission for the Blind

Effective date: March 2, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 4, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 459-2611


Chapter 173. Donations

40 TAC §173.1, §173.2

The Texas Commission for the Blind adopts amendments to §173.1, §173.2 pertaining to Donations, without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 4, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 12259). The adopted text will not be republished.

The rules will serve as the procedures available to parents whose children have applied for or are receiving services from the agency's Blind and Visually Impaired Children's Program. The rules specify the determinations that may be appealed, the method for requesting an informal review of the determination, the method for requesting a formal hearing to contest the determination, the procedures that will be followed in both types of appeal, and the time frames in which decisions will be made.

The Commission received no comments regarding the proposal of the amendments.

The amendments are adopted under the authority of Human Resources Code, Title 5, Chapter 91, §91.011, which authorizes the commission to adopt rules prescribing the policies and procedures followed by the commission in the administration of its programs.

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 February 10, 1999.

TRD-9900850

Terrell I. Murphy

Executive Director

Texas Commission for the Blind

Effective date: March 2, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 4, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 459-2611


40 TAC §§173.3-173.7

The Texas Commission for the Blind adopts the repeal of §§173.3-173.7 pertaining to Donations without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 4, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 12259).

The repeals are adopted to allow the agency to simultaneously adopt new rules to reflect changes in law and Commission practices.

The Commission received no comments regarding the proposal of the repeals.

The repeals are adopted under the authority of Human Resources Code, Title 5, Chapter 91, §91.011, which authorizes the commission to adopt rules prescribing the policies and procedures followed by the commission in the administration of its programs.

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 February 10, 1999.

TRD-9900854

Terrell I. Murphy

Executive Director

Texas Commission for the Blind

Effective date: March 2, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 4, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 459-2611


The Texas Commission for the Blind adopts new §§173.3-173.7 pertaining to Donations without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 4, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 12259-12260). The adopted text will not be republished.

The rules will serve as the procedures available to parents whose children have applied for or are receiving services from the agency's Blind and Visually Impaired Children's Program. The rules specify the determinations that may be appealed, the method for requesting an informal review of the determination, the method for requesting a formal hearing to contest the determination, the procedures that will be followed in both types of appeal, and the time frames in which decisions will be made.

The Commission received no comments regarding the proposal of the new rules.

The new rules are adopted under the authority of Human Resources Code, Title 5, Chapter 91, §91.011, which authorizes the commission to adopt rules prescribing the policies and procedures followed by the commission in the administration of its programs.

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 February 10, 1999.

TRD-9900855

Terrell I. Murphy

Executive Director

Texas Commission for the Blind

Effective date: March 2, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 4, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 459-2611