The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. (1) APA--The Administrative Procedure Act (Government Code, Chapter 2001). (2) Contested case--A proceeding in which the legal rights, duties, or privileges of a party are to be determined after opportunity for an adjudicative hearing. (3) Department--The Texas Department of Transportation. (4) Executive director--The chief administrative officer of the department. (5) Judge--The administrative law judge assigned by the State Office of Administrative Hearings' chief administrative law judge to preside at an administrative hearing held under this subchapter. (6) Party--A person, including the department, that is named or permitted to participate in a contested case hearing by the judge. (7) Person--An individual, representative, corporation, or other entity, including any public or non-profit corporation, or any agency or instrumentality of federal, state, or local government. (8) Petition--The document that initiates a contested case hearing. (9) Petitioner--A person who files a petition under this subchapter. (10) SOAH--The State Office of Administrative Hearings. |
