TITLE 37.PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS

Part 1. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Chapter 3. TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT

Subchapter D. TRAFFIC SUPERVISION

37 TAC §3.62

The Texas Department of Public Safety proposes amendments to §3.62, concerning Regulations Governing Transportation Safety. Amendments to the section are necessary in order to implement changes resulting from revisions, additions, and interpretations to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 350, 387, and 392.

Section 3.62 is amended to implement the registration enforcement provisions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 350, 387, and 392.

Additional amendments are included in order to clarify language of existing provisions of §3.62.

Tom Haas, Chief of Finance, has determined that for each year of the first five-year period the section is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government, or local economies.

Mr. Haas also has determined that for each year of the first five-year period the section is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the section will be to ensure to the public greater compliance by motor carriers with all of the statutes and regulations pertaining to the safe operation of commercial vehicles in this state. Adverse economic impact on individuals, small businesses or micro-businesses could result from noncompliance with these proposed revisions to §3.62. The cost of compliance for micro-businesses and small businesses is the same as for the largest businesses affected by this rule, per cost per employee or hour of labor, specifically, the cost of obtaining an annual motor carrier certificate of registration from the Texas Department of Transportation is $100, plus a $100 auto liability insurance filing fee, and a vehicle fee of $10 per vehicle. The total cost of compliance per individual, small business, or micro-business is dependent on the number of vehicles being operated. There is no adverse economic impact anticipated for individuals, small businesses, or micro-businesses that are in compliance with these proposed amendments as required by current federal regulations.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Coy Clanton, Major, Traffic Law Enforcement Division, Texas Department of Public Safety, PO Box 4087, Austin, Texas 78773-0520, (512) 424-7788.

The amendments are proposed pursuant to Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 644, and Texas Government Code, §411.006(4) and §411.018, which provide the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety with the authority to establish rules for the conduct of the work of the Texas Department of Public Safety, and which authorize the director to adopt rules regulating the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles and the safe transportation of hazardous materials.

This proposal affects Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 644, and Texas Government Code, §411.006(4) and §411.018.

§3.62.Regulations Governing Transportation Safety.

(a) General. The director of the Texas Department of Public Safety incorporates, by reference, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 382, 385, 386, 387, 390-393, and 395-397 including amendments and interpretations thereto. The rules adopted herein are to ensure that:

(1)-(2) (No change.)

(3) the physical condition of a commercial motor vehicle's operator enables the operator to operate the vehicle safely ; and, [ . ]

(4) the minimum levels of financial responsibility required to be maintained by motor carriers of property or passengers operating motor vehicles in interstate, foreign, or intrastate commerce.

(b) Terms. Certain terms, when used in the federal regulations as adopted in subsection (a) of this section, will be defined as follows:

(1)-(6) (No change.)

(7) farm vehicle means any vehicle or combination of vehicles controlled and/or operated by a farmer or rancher being used to transport agriculture commodities [ products ], farm machinery, and farm supplies to or from a farm or ranch;

(8)-(12) (No change.)

(c) Applicability.

(1) The regulations shall be applicable to the following vehicles:

(A) (No change.)

(B) a farm vehicle with an actual gross weight, a registered gross weight, or a gross weight rating [ in excess ] of 48,000 pounds or more when operating intrastate;

(C)-(D) (No change.)

(2)-(4) (No change.)

(5) The regulations contained in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 392.9a, and all amendments thereto, are applicable to motor carriers operating in intrastate commerce and to for-hire interstate motor carriers exempt from economic regulation. The term "registration" as used in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 392.9a, for the motor carriers described in this paragraph, shall mean compliance with the registration requirements found in Texas Transportation Code, §643. Motor carriers placed out-of-service under Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 392.9a may request a review under subsection (q) of this section. All costs associated with the towing and storage of a vehicle and load declared out-of-service under subsection (c)(5) shall be the responsibility of the motor carrier and not the department or the State of Texas.

(6) [ (5) ] All regulations contained in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 382, 385, 386, 387, 390-393 and 395-397, and all amendments thereto pertaining to interstate drivers and vehicles are also adopted except as otherwise excluded.

(7) [ (6) ] Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an employer from requiring and enforcing more stringent requirements relating to safety of operation and employee health and safety.

(d)-(j) (No change.)

(k) Safety Audit Program. The rules in this subsection, as authorized by Texas Transportation Code, §644.155, establish procedures to determine the safety fitness of motor carriers, assign safety ratings, take remedial actions when necessary, assess administrative penalties when required, and prohibit motor carriers receiving a safety rating of "unsatisfactory" from operating a commercial motor vehicle. The department will use the Compliance Review Audit to determine the safety fitness of motor carriers and to assign safety ratings. The safety fitness determination will be assessed on intrastate motor carriers and the intrastate operations of interstate motor carriers based in Texas.

(1)-(3) (No change.)

(4) Safety Fitness Rating.

(A)-(D) (No change.)

(E) In addition to any criminal penalties provided by statute, a motor carrier assessed an unsatisfactory safety rating who continues to operate in violation of the notifications to cease operations under Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 385.13 will be subject to a civil suit filed by the attorney general [ Attorney General ] from a request from the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Each day of operation constitutes a separate violation.

(F)-(H) (No change.)

(l)-(o) (No change.)

(p) Payment, Collection and Settlement of Administrative Penalty.

(1) Payment. A person who is subject to an administrative penalty imposed by the department [ Department ] as authorized by §644.153(d) is required to pay the administrative penalty. The administrative penalty may be paid through one of the following options:

(A)-(B) (No change.)

(2) Non-Payment of Administrative Penalty. A person who fails to pay, or becomes delinquent in the payment of the administrative penalty imposed by the department as authorized by Texas Transportation Code, §644.153(d) shall not operate or direct the operation of a commercial motor vehicle on the highways of this state until such time as the administrative penalty has been remitted to the department. The department will make every effort to collect an administrative penalty once an enforcement action has been deemed as a Final Departmental Decision through the following options:

(A) (No change.)

(B) Prior to issuing the impoundment order, the department will send a Notice of Claim to the person(s), firm, or business in violation of this subchapter by certified mail return receipt requested, or by personal service requiring a response within 20 days. The notice will contain the following language in bold, large face type: "FAILURE TO PAY THIS CLAIM OR RESPOND, AS SPECIFIED IN THE NOTICE OF CLAIM, WITHIN 20 DAYS WILL RESULT IN THIS NOTICE OF CLAIM BEING DEEMED A 'FINAL [ "FINAL ] DEPARTMENT DECISION.' [ DECISION." ] A [ "A ] PERSON WHO IS SUBJECT TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY IMPOSED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS SUBCHAPTER IS REQUIRED TO PAY THE ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES OR RESPOND TO THE DEPARTMENT'S NOTICE OF CLAIM. A PERSON WHO FAILS TO PAY, OR BECOMES DELINQUENT IN THE PAYMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES IMPOSED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS SUBCHAPTER SHALL NOT OPERATE OR DIRECT THE OPERATION OF A COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAYS OF THIS STATE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES HAVE BEEN REMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT."

(C) (No change.)

(3)-(5) (No change.)

(q) Intrastate Operating Authority Out-of-Service Review [ Suspension and revocation by the Texas Department of Transportation ].

(1) A motor carrier may request a review of the out-of- service order within 10 days of the issuance of the out-of- service order. A request for a review does not stay the out- of-service order. A request for an out-of service review must be made in writing and forwarded to the manager of the Motor Carrier Bureau. If requested, a review will be scheduled and conducted by the manager of the Motor Carrier Bureau or the director's designee within 10 days of the issuance of the out-of service order. A request for review should be addressed to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Motor Carrier Bureau, P.O. Box 4087, Austin, Texas 78773-0571 or may be sent by facsimile transmission to (512) 424-5712 or via electronic mail at MotorCarrierBureau@txdps.state.tx.us. The department may conduct the review by telephone conference call. An out-of- service review should be conducted within 3 business days of the date of receipt of the request for a review [ The director will determine whether the department will request the Texas Department of Transportation to suspend or revoke a registration issued by the Texas Department of Transportation based upon the department's compliance review ].

(2) A request for review under paragraph (1) of this subsection must contain [ This determination may be based upon ] the following: a concise statement of the issues to be contested at the review.

[ (A) an unsatisfactory safety rating under Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 385;]

[ (B) multiple violations of Texas Transportation Code, §644;]

[ (C) multiple violations of one of these rules; and/or,]

[ (D) multiple violations of the Uniform Traffic Act or Transportation Code.]

(3) Failure to respond as outlined in paragraphs (1) or (2) of this subsection will deem the out-of-service order as a Final Department Decision [ Once the determination has been made the director will forward a letter to the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation requesting said department initiate a suspension/revocation proceeding against the motor carrier ].

[ (4) Any suspension/revocation action initiated by the Texas Department of Transportation, pursuant to this section, shall be administered in the manner specified by the rules of the Texas Department of Transportation.]

(r) Administrative Action by the Texas Department of Transportation.

(1) The director or the director's designee will determine whether the department will request the Texas Department of Transportation to revoke a registration issued by the Texas Department of Transportation based upon the department's compliance review or safety audit. The director or the director's designee will determine whether the department will request the Texas Department of Transportation to take administrative action against a carrier required to register with the Texas Department of Transportation under Chapter 643 of the Texas Transportation Code.

(2) This determination may be based upon the following:

(A) an unsatisfactory safety rating under Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 385; and/or

(B) not properly registering as a motor carrier with the Texas Department of Transportation as required in Texas Transportation Code, §643.

(3) Once the determination has been made the director or the director's designee will forward a letter to the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation requesting said department initiate an administrative action against the motor carrier.

(4) Any administrative action initiated by the Texas Department of Transportation, pursuant to this section, shall be administered in the manner specified by the rules of the Texas Department of Transportation.

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 April 10, 2003.

TRD-200302357

Thomas A. Davis, Jr.

Director

Texas Department of Public Safety

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 25, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 424-2135


Part 3. TEXAS YOUTH COMMISSION

Chapter 91. PROGRAM SERVICES

Subchapter A. BASIC SERVICES

37 TAC §91.25

The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) proposes new §91.25, concerning Youth With Limited English Proficiency. The new section will provide for reasonable access to all programs and services for TYC youth's who are determined to have Limited English Proficiency. Limited English Proficiency is the term to identify youth who have insufficient English to succeed in the English-only environment within TYC.

Don McCullough, Assistant Deputy Executive Director for Financial Support, has determined that for the first five-year period the section is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the section.

Mr. McCullough also has determined that for each year of the first five years the section is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the section will be compliance with the federal and state laws relating to youth who do not speak English. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the section as proposed. No private real property rights are affected by adoption of this rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to DeAnna Lloyd, Policy Coordinator, Texas Youth Commission, 4900 North Lamar, P.O. Box 4260, Austin, Texas 78765, or email to deanna.lloyd@tyc.state.tx.us.

The new section is proposed under the Human Resources Code, §61.022, which provides the Texas Youth Commission with the authority to comply with federal and state laws related to youth who do not speak English.

The proposed rule affects the Human Resource Code, §61.034.

§91.25.Youth With Limited English Proficiency

(a) Purpose. The Texas Youth Commission will provide reasonable access to all programs and services for youth that are determined to have a Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

(b) Explanation of Term Used. Limited English Proficiency (LEP)- is the term to identify youth who have insufficient English to succeed in the English-only environment within TYC.

(c) Assessment Criteria in Determining LEP.

(1) Upon admission to Marlin Orientation and Assessment Unit (MOAU), all youth are screened to determine if a language other than English is primary. Youth with a primary language other than English are assessed for the degree of English proficiency.

(2) The results and conclusions of all educational, psychological and other assessments will consider the possible influence of the limited English proficiency on the outcome or test scores.

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 April 9, 2003.

TRD-200302352

Steve Robinson

Executive Director

Texas Youth Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 25, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6014


Chapter 97. SECURITY AND CONTROL

Subchapter A. SECURITY AND CONTROL

37 TAC §97.40

The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) proposes an amendment to §97.40, concerning Security Program. The amendment to the section will establish that this rule does not apply to youth who are in the security unit due to danger of injury to self.

Don McCullough, Assistant Deputy Executive Director for Financial Support, has determined that for the first five-year period the section is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the section.

Mr. McCullough also has determined that for each year of the first five years the section is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the section will be to provide for the safety of youth and staff at TYC institutions. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the section as proposed. No private real property rights are affected by adoption of this rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to DeAnna Lloyd, Policy Coordinator, Texas Youth Commission, 4900 North Lamar, P.O. Box 4260, Austin, Texas 78765, or email to deanna.lloyd@tyc.state.tx.us.

The amendment is proposed under the Human Resources Code, §61.045, which provides the Texas Youth Commission with the authority to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of a youth.

The proposed rule affects the Human Resource Code, §61.034.

§97.40.Security Program.

(a) (No change.)

(b) Applicability.

(1) This rule does not apply to:

(A)-(C) (No change.)

(D) the use of the same or adjacent space when used specifically as protective custody. See (GAP) §97.45 of this title (relating to Protective Custody);

(E) [ (D) ] the use of the same or adjacent space when used specifically as temporary admission. See (GAP) §85.41 of this title (relating to Temporary Admission Awaiting Transportation);

(F) [ (E) ] the aggression management program (AMP). See (GAP) §95.21 of this title (relating to Aggression Management Program).

(2) (No change.)

(c) Admission Criteria. A youth may be admitted to the security program if there is reason to believe, based on overt acts by the youth, and/or under the following circumstances:

(1) (No change.)

(2) the youth is a serious and immediate physical danger to [ himself/herself or ] others and staff cannot protect them [ the youth or others ] except by admitting the youth to security program; or

(3)-(6) (No change.)

(d)-(f) (No change.)

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 April 9, 2003.

TRD-200302339

Steve Robinson

Executive Director

Texas Youth Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 25, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6014


37 TAC §97.43

The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) proposes an amendment to §97.43, concerning Institution Detention Program. The amendment to the section will establish that this rule does not apply to youth who are in the security unit due to danger of injury to self.

Don McCullough, Assistant Deputy Executive Director for Financial Support, has determined that for the first five-year period the section is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the section.

Mr. McCullough also has determined that for each year of the first five years the section is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the section will be to provide for the safety of youth and staff at TYC institutions. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the section as proposed. No private real property rights are affected by adoption of this rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to DeAnna Lloyd, Policy Coordinator, Texas Youth Commission, 4900 North Lamar, P.O. Box 4260, Austin, Texas 78765, or email to deanna.lloyd@tyc.state.tx.us.

The amendment is proposed under the Human Resources Code, §61.045, which provides the Texas Youth Commission with the authority to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of a youth.

The proposed rule affects the Human Resource Code, §61.034.

§97.43.Institution Detention Program.

(a) (No change.)

(b) Applicability.

(1) (No change.)

(2) This rule does not apply to:

(A)-(D) (No change.)

(E) the use of the same or adjacent space when used specifically as protective custody. See (GAP) §97.45 of this title (relating to Protective Custody);

(F) [ (E) ] the use of the same or adjacent space when used specifically as temporary admission. See (GAP) §85.41 of this title (relating to Temporary Admission Awaiting Transportation); and

(G) [ (F) ] the aggression management program (AMP). See (GAP) §95.21 of this title (relating to Aggression Management Program).

(c)-(f) (No change.)

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 April 9, 2003.

TRD-200302338

Steve Robinson

Executive Director

Texas Youth Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 25, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6014


Part 6. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Chapter 152. INSTITUTIONAL DIVISION

Subchapter B. MAXIMUM SYSTEM CAPACITY OF THE INSTITUTIONAL DIVISION

37 TAC §152.13

The Texas Board of Criminal Justice proposes new §152.13, concerning April 2003 Additions to Capacity.

The purpose of the new rule is to memorialize proposed additions to capacity at the below-listed TDCJ units, in accordance with the "H.B. 124" process embodied in Texas Government Code §§499.102 et seq., originally enacted at Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 655: Dominguez, Gist, Hutchins, Lychner, and Plane State Jails. The units would have an additional 132 beds each, for a total addition of 660 new beds. This is the second in a series of H.B. 124 reviews recently initiated by TDCJ, and is proposed as a new §152.13, since the most recent prior proposal was proposed as a new subsection (k) to §152.12, and is not yet adopted.

The H.B. 124 process requires approval of proposed additions to capacity by, in order: TDCJ staff, TDCJ senior management, the Board of Criminal Justice, the Governor, and the Attorney General. In addition, the statute requires that the procedure be accomplished through rulemaking, so the Board of Criminal Justice will consider adoption of the proposed amendment at a subsequent meeting, after consideration of any comments received within the requisite 30 days.

The staff of the Institutional Division, State Jail Division, and other operational divisions of TDCJ, finds and recommends that the increases may be made without limiting the ability of the agency to operate the affected units at the higher capacities and provide for the matters listed in Government Code §499.102(a).

Pursuant to Government Code §499.104, these staff findings have been independently reviewed and concurred in by the following TDCJ officials: Gary L. Johnson, Executive Director; Ed Owens, Deputy Executive Director; Gary Gomez, Operations Division Director; Dr. Lannette Linthicum, Health Services Division Director; Debbie Roberts, Programs and Services Division Director; Debbie Liles, Administrative Review and Risk Management Division Director; Janie Cockrell, Institutional Division Director; Nathaniel Quarterman, State Jail Division Director; and Brad Livingston, Financial Services Division Director and Chief Financial Officer.

Pursuant to Government Code §499.102(b), these staff findings have also been forwarded to the Legislative Budget Board for an estimate of the initial cost of implementing the increases and the increases in operating costs for the affected units for the five years immediately following the increases in capacity. The LBB's response will be included in the adoption preamble.

Brad Livingston, Chief Financial Officer for TDCJ, has determined that for the first five years the new section will be in effect, enforcing or administering the rules will have the following costs for state government (and none for local government): initial retrofitting (beds, some fixtures) - $107,250, which will be absorbed by TDCJ; annual operating costs/additional costs for the first five years - the marginal operating cost increase would be minimal, and additional operating costs described in staff documentation primarily reflect a cost allocation of unit costs compared to the population.

Mr. Livingston has also determined that for the first five years the new section is in effect the public benefit expected as a result of the new rule will be the public safety benefit of additional offender capacity at limited expense. There will be no economic impact on persons, small or micro-businesses.

Pursuant to Government Code §499.103, notice to offenders in the affected units will be posted, and comments will be considered prior to adoption. Public comments should be directed to Carl Reynolds, General Counsel, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, P.O. Box 13084, Austin, Texas 78711, Carl.Reynolds@tdcj.state.tx.us. Written comments from the general public should be received within 30 days of the publication of this proposal.

The new rule is proposed under Texas Government Code, §§492.010, and 499.102 et seq.

Cross Reference to Statutes: Texas Government Code §499.102 et seq.

§152.13.April 2003 Additions to Capacity.

At the Dominguez, Gist, Hutchins, Lychner, and Plane State Jails, an addition of two beds each in six dormitories, and the addition of four beds each in 30 dormitories, for a total of 132 additional beds in each unit.

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 April 8, 2003.

TRD-200302323

Carl Reynolds

General Counsel

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 25, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 463-0422