The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council adopts the repeal of §781.508, relating to Hour Requirements for Continuing Education; §781.509, relating to Types of Acceptable Continuing Education; §781.510, relating to Activities Unacceptable as Continuing Education; and §781.514, relating to Credit Hours Granted. The repeal of §§781.508, 781.509, 781.510, and 781.514 are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the April 22, 2022, issue of the Texas Register (47 TexReg 2090) and will not be republished.

Reasoned Justification.

These rules have repealed because these same requirements have been added to new §781.501, pertaining to continuing education, where all licensee continuing education requirements have been consolidated.

List of interested groups or associations against the rule.

None.

Summary of comments against the rule.

None.

List of interested groups or associations for the rule.

None.

Summary of comments for the rule.

None.

Agency Response.

None.

Statutory Authority.

The rule repeal is adopted under Tex. Occ. Code, Title 3, Subtitle I, Chapter 507, which provides the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council with the authority to make all rules, not inconsistent with the Constitution and Laws of this State, which are reasonably necessary for the proper performance of its duties and regulations of proceedings before it.

Additionally, the Executive Council adopts this rule repeal pursuant to the authority found in §507.152 of the Tex. Occ. Code which vests the Executive Council with the authority to adopt rules necessary to perform its duties and implement Chapter 507 of the Tex. Occ. Code.

In accordance with §505.2015 of the Tex. Occ. Code the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners previously voted and, by a majority, approved to propose the adoption of this rule repeal to the Executive Council. The rule repeal is specifically authorized by §505.2015 of the Tex. Occ. Code which states the Board shall propose to the Executive Council rules regarding the qualifications necessary to obtain a license; the scope of practice, standards of care, and ethical practice; continuing education requirements for license holders; and a schedule of sanctions for violations of this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter.

The Executive Council also adopts this rule repeal in compliance with §507.153 of the Tex. Occ. Code. The Executive Council may not propose and adopt a rule regarding the qualifications necessary to obtain a license; the scope of practice, standards of care, and ethical practice for a profession; continuing education requirements; or a schedule of sanctions unless the rule has been proposed by the applicable board for the profession. In this instance, the underlying board has proposed the rule repeal to the Executive Council. Therefore, the Executive Council has complied with Chapters 505 and 507 of the Texas Occupations Code and may adopt this rule repeal.

Lastly, the Executive Council adopts this rule repeal under the authority found in §2001.004 of the Tex. Gov't Code which requires state agencies to adopt rules of practice stating the nature and requirements of all available formal and informal procedures.