(a) This section applies to administrative denials, as that term is defined in §249.3 of this title (relating to Definitions). This section does not apply to the denial of an application for a certificate that has been permanently revoked, and it does not apply to the failure to issue a certificate because specific certification requirements have not been met.
(b) The Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff may administratively deny any of the matters set out in subsection (a) of this section based on satisfactory evidence that:
  (1) the person filed a fraudulent application;
  (2) the person assisted another person in obtaining employment at a school district or open-enrollment charter school, other than by the routine transmission of administrative or personnel files when the person knew that the other person had previously engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a minor or student in violation of the law;
  (3) the person has committed an act that would make them subject to required revocation under the Texas Education Code, §21.058;
  (4) the person has committed an act that would make them subject to mandatory permanent revocation or denial under §249.17(i) of this title (relating to Decision-Making Guidelines);
  (5) the person has engaged in conduct or committed a crime or an offense that:
    (A) demonstrates that the person lacks good moral character;
    (B) demonstrates that the person is unworthy to instruct or to supervise the youth of this state; or
    (C) constitutes the elements of a crime or offense relating directly to the duties and responsibilities of the education profession; or
  (6) the person failed to comply with the terms or conditions of an order issued by or on behalf of the State Board for Educator Certification or the TEA staff.
(c) The TEA staff shall provide written notice of the denial and the factual and legal reasons for it to the person whose application or request has been administratively denied. The notice shall be given by registered or certified mail to the address the person has provided in the application or request that is being denied. The person may attempt to show compliance with legal requirements by written submission or by requesting an informal conference, and/or may appeal and request a State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) hearing as hereafter provided. The 30-day deadline to appeal and request a hearing is not tolled during any attempts to show cause.
(d) The appeal and request for a SOAH hearing of an administrative denial shall be in the form of a petition that complies in content and form with §249.26 of this title (relating to Petition) and 1 Texas Administrative Code, Part 7, §155.301 (relating to Required Form of Pleadings). In order to be referred to the SOAH for a contested case hearing, an appeal petition must be filed with the TEA staff within 30 calendar days after the person received or is deemed to have received written notice of the administrative denial. Unless otherwise proved by the person, the notice shall be deemed to have been received by the examinee no later than five calendar days after mailing to the most recent address provided by the person. The TEA staff may dismiss an appeal that is not timely filed without further action.
(e) The TEA staff shall send an answer to the petition to the person appealing an administrative denial and shall refer the petition and answer to the SOAH for a contested case hearing.

Source Note: The provisions of this §249.12 adopted to be effective March 31, 1999, 24 TexReg 2304; amended to be effective December 16, 2007, 32 TexReg 9112; amended to be effective December 19, 2011, 36 TexReg 8533; amended to be effective March 8, 2018, 43 TexReg 1275; amended to be effective March 5, 2020, 45 TexReg 1413