(a) All final orders shall be in writing and shall be signed and dated by the commissioner. A final decision must include findings of fact and conclusions of law, separately stated. Findings of fact, if set forth in statutory language, must be accompanied by a concise and explicit statement of the underlying facts supporting the findings. If a party submitted proposed findings of fact, the final order shall include a ruling on each proposed finding.     
      (b) A party shall be notified either personally or by first class mail of any decision or order, unless otherwise provided by law. When the commissioner issues a final decision or order ruling on a motion for rehearing, the agency shall send a copy of that final decision or order by first class mail to the attorneys of record and shall keep an appropriate record of that mailing. If a party is not represented by an attorney of record, then the agency shall send a copy of a final decision or order ruling on a motion for rehearing by first class mail to that party, and the agency shall keep an appropriate record of that mailing. A party or attorney of record notified by mail of a final decision or order as required by this section shall be presumed to have been notified on the date such notice is mailed.     
      (c) A final decision or order of the commissioner must be rendered within 60 days from the last date for filing of exceptions and replies to exceptions to the administrative law judge's proposal for decision, unless the administrative law judge, at the conclusion of the hearing, specifies a longer period of time within which the order may be issued.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §2.22 adopted to be effective January 9, 2003, 28 TexReg 479