| (a) The board may hold public hearings:
(1) to consider the adoption of rules;
(2) in accordance with the programs operated by the
department; and
(3) to provide, when deemed appropriate by the board
or when otherwise required by law, for public input regarding any
other issue under the jurisdiction of the board.
(b) The executive director or designee may hold public
hearings under subsection (a)(2) and (3) of this section.
(c) Public hearings shall be conducted in a manner
that maximizes public access and input while maintaining proper decorum
and orderliness, and shall be governed by the following guidelines:
(1) Questioning of those making presentations shall
be reserved to board members, the executive director, the executive
director's designee, or if applicable, the presiding officer.
(2) Organizations, associations, or groups are encouraged
to present their commonly held views and same or similar comments
through a representative member where possible.
(3) Presentations shall remain pertinent to the issue
being discussed.
(4) A person who disrupts a public hearing shall leave
the hearing room and the premises if ordered to do so by the chair,
the executive director, the executive director's designee, or, if
applicable, the presiding officer.
(5) Time allotted to one speaker may not be assigned
to another speaker.
(d) Persons who have special communication or accommodation
needs and who plan to attend a public hearing under this section may
contact the department's contact listed in the public hearing notice
for the purpose of requests for auxiliary aids of services. Requests
shall be made at least two days before the hearing. The department
shall make every reasonable effort to accommodate these needs.
|
| Source Note: The provisions of this §206.23 adopted to be effective February 4, 2010, 35 TexReg 654; amended to be effective June 25, 2015, 40 TexReg 4000; amended to be effective June 1, 2024, 49 TexReg 2696 |
