The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) adopts the repeal of §§9.101-9.109, 9.201-9.213, and 9.301-9.309; and adopts new §§9.101-9.104, 9.201, 9.203, 9.205, 9.207, 9.209, 9.211, 9.213, 9.215, 9.217, 9.219, 9.221, 9.223, 9.225, 9.227, 9.229, 9.231, 9.233, 9.235, 9.237, 9.301, 9.303, 9.305, 9.307, 9.309, 9.311, 9.313, 9.315, 9.317, 9.319, 9.321, 9.323, 9.325, 9.327, 9.329, 9.331, 9.333, 9.401, 9.403, 9.405, 9.407, 9.409, 9.411, 9.413, 9.415, 9.417, 9.419, 9.421, 9.423, 9.425, 9.427, 9.501, 9.503, 9.505, 9.507, 9.509, 9.511, 9.513, 9.515, 9.517, 9.519, 9.601, 9.602, 9.701, 9.703, 9.705, 9.707, 9.709, 9.711, 9.713, 9.715, 9.717, 9.719, 9.721, 9.801-9.806, and 9.901-9.907, concerning Refugee Social Services.

DHS adopts new §9.103 with changes to the proposed text published in the August 30, 2002, issue of the Texas Register (27 TexReg 8117). DHS adopts the repeal of §§9.101-9.109, 9.201-9.213, and 9.301-9.309; and adopts new §§9.101, 9.102, 9.104, 9.201, 9.203, 9.205, 9.207, 9.209, 9.211, 9.213, 9.215, 9.217, 9.219, 9.221, 9.223, 9.225, 9.227, 9.229, 9.231, 9.233, 9.235, 9.237, 9.301, 9.303, 9.305, 9.307, 9.309, 9.311, 9.313, 9.315, 9.317, 9.319, 9.321, 9.323, 9.325, 9.327, 9.329, 9.331, 9.333, 9.401, 9.403, 9.405, 9.407, 9.409, 9.411, 9.413, 9.415, 9.417, 9.419, 9.421, 9.423, 9.425, 9.427, 9.501, 9.503, 9.505, 9.507, 9.509, 9.511, 9.513, 9.515, 9.517, 9.519, 9.601, 9.602, 9.701, 9.703, 9.705, 9.707, 9.709, 9.711, 9.713, 9.715, 9.717, 9.719, 9.721, 9.801-9.806, and 9.901-9.907, without changes to the proposed text published in the August 30, 2002, issue of the Texas Register (27 TexReg 8117).

The repeals and new sections were undertaken as part of a DHS project to rewrite agency rules in plain language format to make them easier for contractors and the public to use and understand. Provisions regarding limited English proficiency, accounting requirements for contractors, a requirement that contractors have a conflict of interest policy, clarification of asylee eligibility, and provisions concerning unaccompanied refugee minors were added to the rule base to bring DHS rules in line with federal regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, parts 400 and 401.

DHS received no comments regarding adoption of the repeals or new sections; however, DHS initiated minor editorial changes in §9.103(4) and (16) to clarify and improve the accuracy of the section.

The repeals are adopted under the Human Resources Code, Chapter 22, which authorizes DHS to administer public assistance programs, and under the Government Code, Chapter 752, which creates the Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs within DHS.

The repeals implement the Human Resources Code, §§22.001-22.038, and the Government Code, §§752.001-752.026.