ZEM S.B. 323 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


CIVIL PRACTICES
S.B. 323
By: Armbrister (Gray)
5-1-97
Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND 

During the interim of the 74th Legislature, the Lieutenant Governor
charged the Senate State Affairs Committee to review the effectiveness of
the transfer of administrative hearings from individual state agencies to
the State Office of Administrative Hearings.  Review of the creation of
the agency and its current structure revealed a need to address training
requirements for future administrative law judges.  There are no uniform
requirements for these positions, resulting in a variance of professional
qualifications for administrative law judges.  S.B. 323 outlines
provisions relating to judicial training and continued education for
administrative law judges of the State Office of Administrative Hearings. 

PURPOSE

S.B. 323 outlines provisions relating to judicial training and continued
education for administrative law judges of the State Office of
Administrative Hearings. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 2003C, Government Code, by adding Section
2003.0451, as follows: 

Sec. 2003.0451. TRAINING.  Sets forth the training requirements and
provisions that the State Office of Administrative Hearings (office) is
required to provide to each new administrative law judge.  Sets forth
areas the training is authorized to include.  Provides that Subsection (a)
does not apply to a temporary administrative law judge. 

SECTION 2.    Provides that the training requirements do not apply to an
administrative law judge employed on the effective date of this Act. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.