(a) The Council shall adopt rules necessary to perform its duties and implement Title 3, Subtitle I, Chapter 507 of the Occupations Code. When carrying out its rulemaking functions, the Council shall abide by the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act found in Chapter 2001 of the Government Code.
(b) The Council shall have exclusive rulemaking authority for the agency, including rules governing general agency operations, administration of licensure, investigation of complaints, and sanction procedures. In connection with this rulemaking authority, the Council must also review draft rules proposed by each member board for anti-competitive impacts, administrative consistency, and good governance concerns.
(c) The Council may propose and adopt a rule governing those matters set forth in §507.153(a) of the Occupations Code if a draft rule has been proposed by the member board for the profession. Member boards may not propose new draft rules or changes to rules except as authorized by §507.153(a).
(d) Member boards must submit a new draft rule or rule change to the Council for consideration by submitting a draft of the rule with any deletions crossed through and additions underlined. The draft must also contain each of the notice components required in a preamble (e.g., §2001.024 of the Government Code) when proposing a new rule or changes to an existing rule. When submitting a new draft rule or rule change to the Council, member boards must also submit any information or comments received from the public in connection with the proposed rule.
(e) When reviewing a draft rule proposed by a member board, the Council may:
  (1) Request additional information relevant to the rule from the member board;
  (2) Require the member board to conduct new or additional analysis of possible implications of the rule;
  (3) Solicit public comment or hold public hearings, or alternatively, request the member board do so; and
  (4) Make non-substantive, editorial changes to the rule as necessary.
(f) Following the review of a draft rule submitted by a member board, the Council shall either accept the draft rule as proposed and initiate formal rulemaking proceedings or return the draft rule to the member board for revision. When returning a rule for revision, the Council must include an explanation of the decision to reject the rule as proposed, and may recommend changes that would make the rule acceptable to the Council.
(g) The Council shall, with regard to rules proposed pursuant to §507.153(a) of the Occupations Code, share with the appropriate member board any public comments received following publication of a proposed rule in the Texas Register. Following publication of a proposed rule and review of any public comments received, a member board shall suggest any changes needed to the proposed rule or vote to recommend adoption, tabling, or withdrawal of the rule and advise the Council of such. Thereafter, the Council may adopt the rule as proposed, withdraw or table the rule in accordance with the member board's recommendation, or return the rule to the member board for further revision. When returning a rule for revision, the Council must include an explanation of the decision to not adopt the rule as proposed, and may recommend any changes that would make the rule acceptable to the Council.
(h) The Council may make non-substantive, editorial changes to a draft rule as necessary.
(i) The Council shall consider each of the following factors when reviewing a draft rule submitted by a member board:
  (1) Whether the proposed rule promotes a clearly articulated and affirmatively expressed policy as established by the legislature to displace competition with government action, or whether the proposed rule reflects the exercise of discretion or implied authority by a member board;
  (2) Whether absence of the proposed rule poses a significant risk of harm or danger to the public health, safety, or welfare of the residents of the state that is easily recognizable and not remote or dependent on tenuous argument;
  (3) Whether the proposed rule seeks to regulate activities or services requiring specialized skill or training and whether the public clearly needs and will benefit from the proposed rule;
  (4) Whether the proposed rule would have the effect of directly or indirectly increasing the cost of mental health services and, if so, whether the increase would be more harmful to the public than the harm that might result from the absence of the proposed rule;
  (5) Whether the proposed rule would significantly reduce market participation or competition in the state and, if so, whether the reduction would be more harmful to the public than the harm that might result from the absence of the proposed rule; and
  (6) Whether the residents of the state are or may be effectively protected by other means.

Source Note: The provisions of this §881.20 adopted to be effective September 1, 2020, 45 TexReg 4753