Section 80.252 - Judge's Proposal for Decision(a) Any application that is declared administratively complete on or after September 1, 1999, is subject to this section.(b) Judge's proposal for decision regarding an application filed before September 1, 2015, applications not referred under Texas Water Code (TWC), §5.556 or §5.557, or applications not subject to TWC, §11.122(b-1). After closing the hearing record, the judge shall file a written proposal for decision with the chief clerk no later than the end of the maximum expected duration set by the commission and shall send a copy by certified mail to the executive director and to each party.(c) Judge's proposal for decision regarding an application filed on or after September 1, 2015, and referred under TWC, §5.556 or §5.557. After closing the hearing record, the judge shall file a written proposal for decision with the chief clerk no later than 180 days after the first day of the preliminary hearing, the date specified by the commission, or the date to which the deadline was extended pursuant to Texas Government Code, § 2003.047(e-3). Additionally, the judge shall send a copy by certified mail to the executive director and to each party.(d) Judge's proposal for decision regarding an application filed on or after September 1, 2017, and subject to TWC, §11.122(b-1). After closing the hearing record, the judge shall file a written proposal for decision with the chief clerk no later than 270 days after the first day of the preliminary hearing, the date specified by the commission, or the date to which the deadline was extended pursuant to Texas Government Code, § 2003.047(e-3). Additionally, the judge shall send a copy by certified mail to the executive director and to each party.(e) Proposal for decision: adverse to a party. A proposal for decision shall be filed by the judge who conducted the hearing or by a substitute judge who has read the record. If the proposal for decision is adverse to a party to the proceeding, it shall contain a statement of the reasons for the proposal as well as findings of fact and conclusions of law which support the proposal on any issue referred by the commission or added by the judge. If any party has filed proposed findings of fact upon the judge's request, the judge shall include with the proposal for decision recommended rulings on all findings of fact so proposed. Where more than one judge has been assigned to hear a particular proceeding, the presiding judge will issue the proposal for decision and the other assigned judge or judges may file comments.(f) Proposal for decision: not adverse to any party. If the proposal for decision is not adverse to any party to the proceeding, the judge may informally dispose of the matter by proposing to the commission an order which need not contain findings of fact, conclusions of law, or reasons for the proposal. If the proposal for decision is not adverse to any party and a permit is to be issued, the judge need not propose an order to the commission.30 Tex. Admin. Code § 80.252
The provisions of this §80.252 adopted to be effective September 23, 1999, 24 TexReg 8276; amended to be effective November 15, 2001, 26 TexReg 9105; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 40, Number 52, December 25, 2015, TexReg 9699, eff. 12/31/2015; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 43, Number 32, August 10, 2018, TexReg 5218, eff. 8/16/2018