| TO: |
Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence |
| FROM: |
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
|
| IN RE: |
HB2580 by Leach (Relating to the operation and administration of the State Office of Administrative Hearings, including procedures during a declared disaster and the use of videoconferencing technology to conduct administrative hearings.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Government Code, Agriculture Code, Labor Code, Transportation Code, and Insurance Code, to clarify State Office of Administrative Hearings' (SOAH) authority to conduct administrative hearings and alternative dispute resolution procedures using videoconferencing technologies and would authorize the Chief Administrative Law Judge to issue emergency orders as necessary.
The bill would codify SOAH's current organizational structure by recognizing the position and duties of the Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge, including the Deputy's authority to supervise the agency's administrative law judges.
The bill would repeal redundant requirements for procedural MOUs with the Department of Agriculture, the Texas Department of Insurance, and the Division of Workers' Compensation. The bill would grant SOAH the authority to conduct criminal background checks on the agency's administrative law judges and other agency employees.
Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration and SOAH, it is assumed that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the bill could be accomplished utilizing available resources. In addition, no significant fiscal impact to the state court system is anticipated with the implementation of the bill.
| Source Agencies: | 212 Office of Court Admin, 360 Office Adm Hearings |
| LBB Staff: | JMc, SLE, MB, MPUK, BH |