| (a) Purpose. The purpose of this rule is to permit
Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) youth and their parents or
guardians to appeal decisions made by TJJD or contract program employees
to the TJJD executive director.
(b) Direct Appeals to the Executive Director. A direct
appeal to the executive director or designee may be filed in matters
limited to:
(1) the results of a Level I or II hearing;
(2) the assignment of a minimum length of stay;
(3) a response to a healthcare-related grievance;
(4) a response to an appeal of a grievance not related
to healthcare issues;
(5) the lack of a written response within 15 workdays
after submission of a grievance;
(6) the lack of a written response within 15 workdays
after submission of a grievance appeal;
(7) a disapproved home evaluation;
(8) the results of a Level IV hearing held for a youth
in community detention;
(9) the results of a second or subsequent Level IV
hearing held for a youth in detention in a TJJD security unit;
(10) a decision to extend the youth's stay in the Security
Program for 120 continuous hours or longer;
(11) a decision from a mental health status review
hearing;
(12) a decision from a Title IV-E hearing;
(13) the findings of an alleged abuse, neglect, or
exploitation investigation; and
(14) the decision of the administrator of chaplaincy
services regarding a request for accommodation of religious practices.
(c) Filing Deadline. All appeals must be submitted
in writing, clearly describe the grounds for the appeal, and be filed
within six months after the decision being appealed. Appeals filed
after that time may be considered at the discretion of the executive
director or designee.
(d) Action of the Executive Director.
(1) The executive director or designee responds in
writing to each appeal. Failure to respond to an appeal within 30
working days will constitute an exhaustion of administrative remedies
for purposes of appeal to the courts, but it will not be construed
as acceptance or rejection of any contention made in the appeal.
(2) The executive director or designee considers the
recommendations of the Office of General Counsel in reaching a decision
on appeals of investigation findings, including any additional findings
or information that resulted from further investigation.
(3) The executive director or designee may uphold,
reverse, or modify a grievance resolution. He/she may also return
the grievance to the chief local administrator with instructions or
determine that the grievance involves operational issues that have
been adequately addressed and resolved at the facility level.
(4) The executive director or designee may determine
that an issue has not been sufficiently developed to render an informed
appeal resolution. If so, the executive director or designee may,
before a response is issued:
(A) conduct further investigation;
(B) require staff to provide additional information
about the investigation and state a time frame in which to comply;
or
(C) reopen the investigation. If the investigation
findings are changed, the parties entitled to notification are notified
of their right to appeal the new findings.
(e) Distribution of Appeal Decisions.
(1) Appeal decisions are distributed to the following:
(A) the complainant;
(B) the complainant's attorney or representative, if
any;
(C) the chief local administrator where the youth resides;
(D) the chief local administrator where the incident
occurred; and
(E) other persons as deemed appropriate.
(2) Appropriate TJJD staff must assist youth in interpreting
appeal decisions from TJJD's executive director or designee.
(f) Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies. The appeal
decision of the executive director or designee is the final administrative
resolution of an issue appealed and constitutes an exhaustion of administrative
remedies for purposes of appeal to the courts.
|
| Source Note: The provisions of this §380.9353 adopted to be effective December 31, 1996, 21 TexReg 12187; amended to be effective January 31, 2001, 26 TexReg 768; amended to be effective July 31, 2001, 26 TexReg 4728; amended to be effective April 15, 2002, 27 TexReg 2832; amended to be effective August 19, 2002, 27 TexReg 7547; amended to be effective April 16, 2003, 28 TexReg 3060; amended to be effective December 14, 2003, 28 TexReg 11106; amended to be effective September 21, 2005, 30 TexReg 5961; amended to be effective September 1, 2009, 34 TexReg 5553; amended to be effective November 1, 2011, 36 TexReg7352; transferred effective June 4, 2012, as published in the Texas Register June 22, 2012, 37 TexReg 4639; amended to be effective October 1, 2015, 40 TexReg 6138 |
