Sec. 571.078.  NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING AND ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.  (a)  The commission shall develop and implement a policy to encourage the use of:
(1)  negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008 for the adoption of commission rules;  and
(2)  appropriate alternative dispute resolution procedures under Chapter 2009 to assist in the resolution of internal and external disputes under the commission's jurisdiction.
(b)  Subsection (a)(2) does not apply to a preliminary review or preliminary review hearing under Sections 571.124 through 571.126.
(c)  The commission's procedures relating to alternative dispute resolution must conform, to the extent possible, to any model guidelines issued by the State Office of Administrative Hearings for the use of alternative dispute resolution by state agencies.
(d)  The commission shall designate a trained person to:
(1)  coordinate the implementation of the policy adopted under Subsection (a);
(2)  serve as a resource for any training needed to implement the procedures for negotiated rulemaking or alternative dispute resolution;  and
(3)  collect data concerning the effectiveness of those procedures, as implemented by the commission.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 249, Sec. 1.13, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.