TITLE 1.ADMINISTRATION

Part 3. OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Chapter 55. CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT

Subchapter H. LICENSE SUSPENSION

1 TAC §§55.205, 55.207, 55.212

The Office of the Attorney General proposes amendments to 1 TAC §§55.205, 55.207, and 55.212 concerning license suspension for failure to pay child support. These sections establish the procedures and documents required to initiate a license suspension proceeding. Section 55.205(b) as amended includes relevant court orders and payment records among those items designated as attachments to the Notice of Filing Petition to Suspend License, and deletes reference to Telephone hearing forms which are no longer used. This amendment assures the inclusion of documentary evidence at the beginning of the license suspension process with the filing of the Petition to Suspend License. Section 55.207(a) as amended would require a party to file copies of documentary evidence to be offered at the hearing only if the evidence has not been previously filed with the coordinator. This amendment clarifies that the parties need not file evidence or documentation previously included in the Petition to Suspend License. Section 55.212 as amended would allow the administrative law judge, as the designee of the Title IV-D director, to render the final decision in a license suspension proceeding.

Howard G. Baldwin, Jr., IV-D Director, Child Support Division, has determined that for the first five year period there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the section.

Mr. Baldwin also has determined that the proposed amendment will not have an adverse economic effect on small businesses because the amendment of these rules imposes no additional burden on anyone. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the section as proposed. The proposed amendments will also result in significant savings of postage and paper by eliminating the requirement of mailing massive numbers of duplicate documents by certified mail with return receipt, and often by express mail in each license suspension case.

Comments may be submitted to Samuel T. Jackson, Child Support Division, Office of the Administrative Law Judge, Office of the Attorney General, (physical address) 5500 East Oltorf, Austin, Texas 78741, or (mailing address) P.O. Box 12017, Austin, Texas 78711-2017, mail code 039, (512) 460-6397

The amended section is proposed under the Family Code, Chapter 232, Suspension of License for Failure to Pay Child Support or Comply with Subpoena.

The Family Code, Chapter 232, is affected by the amended section.

§55.205.Initiating a Proceeding.

(a)

(No change.)

(b)

Petition to Suspend License Packet. The packet is the Notice of Filing Petition to Suspend License, with all attachments, including the Petition to Suspend License, Request for Hearing,[ and Request for Telephone Hearing forms ] all relevant court orders and payment records.

(c)-(g)

(No change.)

§55.207.Pre-hearing Matters.

(a)

Not later than 20 days prior to the hearing, each party shall file with the coordinator, and serve on the other parties, a list of witnesses the party will call at the hearing and copies of [ all ] any supplemental documentary evidence , not previously filed with the coordinator, to be offered into evidence at the hearing.

(b)

(No change.)

(c)

Not later than ten days prior to the hearing, the [ The ] coordinator will compile and transmit to the parties [ ten days prior to the hearing ] a petitioner's evidentiary packet and an obligor's evidentiary packet. The respective packets will contain the list of witnesses and any supplemental documentary evidence submitted pursuant to subsection (a) above to be offered by the respective party. [ The coordinator will identify and consecutively paginate the respective packets. ]

(d)

(No change.)

§55.212.Decision.

Following the conclusion of the hearing, the administrative law judge, as the designee of the director of the Title IV-D agency, will issue a decision and final order. [ The director of the Title IV-D agency will consider the proposal for decision, exceptions, and replies, and issue a decision and final order. ]

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 14, 2000.

TRD-200000221

Elizabeth Robinson

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Earliest possible date of adoption: February 27, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 463-2110


1 TAC §55.210, §55.211

(Editor's note: The text of the following sections proposed for repeal will not be published. The sections may be examined in the offices of the Office of the Attorney General or in the Texas Register office, Room 245, James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin.)

The Office of the Attorney General proposes to repeal 1 TAC §55.210 and §55.211 concerning license suspension for failure to pay child support. Section 55.210 requires the administrative law judge to issue a proposal for decision following a license suspension hearing. Section 55.211 gives the adversely affected party an opportunity to file exceptions to the proposal for decision for the Title IV-D Director's consideration prior to rendition of a final decision.

These sections are no longer necessary because the agency official (the administrative law judge) who conducts the hearing or reads the record will render the final decision in contested cases pursuant to amended §55.212. This eliminates the necessity of the proposal for decision required by Tex.Gov.Code §2001.062(a)(1) in cases in which the government official rendering the final decision does not hear the case or review the record. The requirement to provide the parties an opportunity to file exceptions and briefs in accordance with Tex.Gov.Code §2001.062(a)(2) is dispensed with as well. Any party desiring to challenge a final decision retains the right to file a Request for Rehearing which may be granted or denied by the administrative law judge as provided in Tex.Gov.Code §2001.145.

Howard G. Baldwin, Jr., IV-D Director, Child Support Division, has determined that for the first five year period this section, as proposed, is in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government because the repeal of these rules imposes no additional burden on anyone.

Mr. Baldwin has also determined that the proposed amendments will substantially expedite the processing of license suspension cases by eliminating the extensive holding periods for exceptions to the proposed decisions, while still permitting the respondent sufficient opportunity for redress through rehearings and appeals. Mr. Baldwin has determined that the proposed repeals will not have an adverse economic effect on small businesses because the repeal of these rules imposes no additional burden on anyone.

Comments may be submitted to Samuel T. Jackson, Child Support Division, Office of the Administrative Law Judge, Office of the Attorney General, (physical address) 5500 East Oltorf, Austin, Texas 78741, or (mailing address) P.O. Box 12017, Austin, Texas 78711-2017, mail code 039, (512)460-6397

The proposed repealed sections are under the Family Code, Chapter 232, Suspension of License for Failure to Pay Child Support or Comply with Subpoena, § 232.004(d), which provides that a proceeding in a case filed with the Title IV-D agency under this chapter is governed by the contested case provisions of Chapter 2001, Government Code.

The Family Code, Chapter 232, is affected by the repealed sections.

§55.210.Proposal for Decision.

§55.211.Exceptions and Replies to Exceptions to Proposal for Decision.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 14, 2000.

TRD-200000220

Elizabeth Robinson

Assistant Attorney General

Office of the Attorney General

Earliest possible date of adoption: February 27, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 463-2110