Texas Senate Bill SB216

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Relating to the functions and operation of the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

Impact

The impact on state laws is significant as SB216 alters the procedural landscape for administrative hearings in Texas. It introduces new provisions such as a mandated review or adjustment of legislative appropriations requests based on anticipated usage of SOAH’s services, which could lead to cost adjustments for state agencies. This could potentially lead to more predictable funding mechanisms, ensuring that SOAH has adequate resources aligned with the volume of cases it handles. Furthermore, by allowing SOAH to handle cases informally, the bill could alleviate the burden on formal court systems and expedite administrative justice.

Summary

SB216 aims to enhance the functions and operational framework of the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) by amending several provisions in the Texas Government Code. The bill seeks to improve efficiency and effectiveness in conducting administrative hearings by allowing more flexible procedures for state agencies that refer cases to SOAH. Notably, it empowers administrative law judges to dismiss cases that have not progressed adequately due to a party's default and remand these to the referring agency for informal disposition. This change reflects a legislative intent to streamline processes and ensure timely resolutions for contested cases.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding SB216 is the shift towards informal dispositions, which some stakeholders fear could dilute the rigor of contested cases. Concerns were raised that this could lead to inadequate oversight in certain scenarios, hence undermining the integrity of the adjudicative process. The bill has also faced scrutiny regarding how it may affect the accountability of state agencies in cases they refer to SOAH, particularly in regard to the efficiency of their responses and actions during the hearing process.