(a) The State Policy Committee (SPC), with the assistance of any applicable Local Employee Committee (LEC) appointed by the SPC, shall review applications submitted by local federations/funds, affiliated organizations, and other charitable organizations, and may approve an applicant for participation in a local campaign area only if the organization:      
        (1) meets the definition of a "local charitable organization" as that term is defined in Government Code, §659.131; and       
        (2) is either:                  (A) an unaffiliated local organization; or                   (B) a federation or fund or an affiliate of a federation or fund that is not approved for statewide participation.         
      (b) The SPC or LEC, as applicable, shall determine the eligibility of a charitable organization for local participation in the state employee charitable campaign (SECC). In making this determination, the SPC or LEC shall consider whether the applicant:      
        (1) has timely submitted all required application materials;       
        (2) satisfies applicable eligibility criteria set forth under Chapter 330 of this title; and       
        (3) satisfies other legal and regulatory requirements prescribed by law.       
      (c) Health and Human Services. The SPC and the LEC construe the statutory definition of "health and human services" and apply that definition to determine the eligibility of a charitable organization to participate in the SECC campaign. The term "health and human services" is construed and applied in accordance with the structure and guidelines set forth in this paragraph. To qualify as "health and human services" the services provided must benefit the residents of this state and must consist of one or more of the following:      
        (1) human care, which term includes health care, rehabilitation, restorative care, hospice care, respite care, and assistance with activities of daily living, and which includes physical, mental, and emotional assistance;       
        (2) medical research or other research. The research must be in one or more of the following fields:                  (A) human health, which term includes physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, and which includes various topics related to human health including, nutrition, wellness, exercise, disease, disorders, treatment, prevention of disease, and maintenance of health;                   (B) education, which term includes special education, pedagogy, assessments, promotion of literacy, and assessment for and treatment of learning disabilities;                   (C) social adjustment, which term includes an individual’s ability to cope with standards, values, and needs of society and to adapt to a social environment; or                   (D) rehabilitation, which term includes restorative care and follow-up care in nursing homes, halfway houses, inpatient facilities and patients’ homes;         
        (3) relief for victims of natural disaster or other emergencies. Other emergencies refers to events and situations such as drought, fire, accidents, or epidemics, that may have an impact on the health, safety, or welfare of the general population or a specific segment of the population; or       
        (4) assistance to impoverished individuals in need of food, shelter, clothing, or other basic needs. Basic needs may include such things as education-related services and goods for pre-K through 12th grade, special education services for people with disabilities, and adult literacy.       
      (d) For purposes of the 25-word description, each part of a hyphenated term will count as a separate word. Applications that contain a description of more than 25 words will be denied approval by the LEC or the SPC, as applicable.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §332.3 adopted to be effective March 10, 2005, 30 TexReg 1454; amended to be effective April 17, 2018, 43 TexReg 2287