7 Tex. Admin. Code § 93.201
The Department appoints SOAH to be its finder of fact in contested cases. The Department does not delegate to the ALJ and retains for itself the right to determine the sanctions and make the final decision in any contested case. Contested cases shall be conducted in accordance with the APA and SOAH's procedural rules (1 TAC Chapter 155) and shall be heard by an ALJ assigned by SOAH. When the Department submits a request to docket a case, SOAH acquires jurisdiction over a contested case and retains jurisdiction until SOAH issues a proposal for decision (PFD) or final amendments or corrections, if any, to the PFD, or upon SOAH's remand of the case to the Department. In case of conflict with the Commission's rules, SOAH's rules control while SOAH has jurisdiction.
7 Tex. Admin. Code § 93.201