Sec. 901.167.  NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING AND ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION POLICY.  (a)  The board shall develop and implement a policy to encourage the use of:
(1)  negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government Code, for the adoption of board rules;  and
(2)  appropriate alternative dispute resolution procedures under Chapter 2009, Government Code, to assist in the resolution of internal and external disputes under the board's jurisdiction.
(b)  The board'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.
(c)  The board 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 necessary for implementation of the negotiated rulemaking or alternative dispute resolution procedures;  and
(3)  collect data on the effectiveness of the procedures implemented by the board.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 525, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.