(a) Within seven days of receipt of a request for setting in accordance with §1.602 of this chapter (relating to Submitting a Dispute for Settlement), the department shall:
  (1) assign a docket number to the matter;
  (2) appoint a facilitator to conduct a settlement conference;
  (3) set a date for a settlement conference; and
  (4) send notice of the settlement conference to parties.
(b) The notice to parties shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by fax, and shall include:
  (1) a statement that there is a dispute as to charges owed to the lien claimant;
  (2) that a settlement conference has been requested and by whom;
  (3) the date, time and place of the settlement conference; and
  (4) who to contact for more information.
(c) Parties must be notified of the settlement conference at least ten days before the date of the conference. Notification takes place upon the mailing of the notice by the department by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the party's last known mailing address or upon the transmission of the notice by fax to the party's last known fax number.

Source Note: The provisions of this §1.603 adopted to be effective September 22, 1997, 22 TexReg 9242; amended to be effective February 7, 2023, 48 TexReg 505