(a) After the time for filing exceptions and replies to exceptions expires and the proposal for decision is forwarded to the Texas Education Agency, the State Board of Education (SBOE) shall consider the proposal for decision and any exceptions and replies in public session and shall enter a written decision adopting or modifying and adopting the proposed decision or remanding the matter to the State Office of Administrative Hearings for further proceedings.

(b) No public testimony shall be heard on the question of adopting, modifying, or remanding the proposal for decision. No information other than the record of the proceedings conducted by the administrative law judge, the proposal for decision, and the exceptions and replies of the parties shall be heard, considered, or discussed by the SBOE concerning the contested case.

(c) All final decisions or orders of the SBOE shall be in writing and signed by the chair, if voting in favor of the decision, or by a member selected by those voting in favor of the decision. A final decision shall include findings of fact and conclusions of law separately stated. Findings of fact, if set forth in statutory language, shall be accompanied by a concise and explicit statement of the underlying facts supporting the findings.

(d) The decision of the SBOE may incorporate by reference the proposal for decision in whole or in part, and such incorporation by reference may constitute compliance with subsection (c) of this section. If the decision of the SBOE modifies the proposal for decision in any respect, the SBOE shall specify the portions modified and shall set out in full the affected language as modified by the decision of the SBOE.

(e) Party representatives shall be simultaneously notified either personally, by facsimile transmission, or overnight courier of each decision or order. For purposes of §157.4 of this title (relating to Motions for Rehearing), a party present at a meeting of the SBOE at which a public vote is taken shall be deemed notified of the decision or order on the date of the vote.

Source Note: The provisions of this §157.3 adopted to be effective March 31, 2004, 29 TexReg 3175; amended to be effective March 7, 2012, 37 TexReg 1513