Sec. 5.43.  WHO MAY HOLD HEARING;  RULES OF EVIDENCE.  (a)  Except for a hearing on the adoption of commission rules or a hearing on an employment matter, the commission designates the State Office of Administrative Hearings to conduct and make a record of any hearing authorized by this code.  If the commission or administrator declares a hearing to be an emergency, the State Office of Administrative Hearings shall assign an administrative law judge or may contract with a qualified individual within five days and set a hearing as soon as possible.
(b)  The commission may render a decision on the basis of the record or the proposal for decision if one is required under the administrative procedure law, Chapter 2001, Government Code, as if the commission had conducted the hearing.  The commission may prescribe its rules of procedure for cases not heard by the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 401, ch. 194, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.  Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 934, Sec. 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1993;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 5.95(49), eff. Sept. 1, 1995;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 487, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1995.
Amended by: 
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1359 (H.B. 1545), Sec. 15, eff. December 31, 2020.