Sec. 14.053.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF STATE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS.  (a)  The State Office of Administrative Hearings shall conduct each hearing in a contested case that is not conducted by one or more commissioners.
(b)  The commission may delegate to the State Office of Administrative Hearings the authority to make a final decision and to issue findings of fact, conclusions of law, and other necessary orders in a proceeding in which there is not a contested issue of fact or law.
(c)  The commission by rule shall define the procedures by which it delegates final decision-making authority under Subsection (b).
(d)  For review purposes an administrative law judge's final decision under Subsection (b) has the same effect as a final decision of the commission unless a commissioner requests formal review of the decision.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Amended by: 
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 2154), Sec. 24, eff. September 1, 2015.