SECTION 249.39. Final Decisions and Orders

(a) The chair having certified a quorum present at a State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) meeting, a majority vote of the voting members present shall be required to make a final decision on a proposal for decision, an agreed order, or request for issuance of a default judgment, unless provided otherwise by this chapter.

(b) Unless a party or the party's authorized representative, as appropriate, agrees in writing to receive it via facsimile or email, a copy of the SBEC's decision or order shall be delivered by certified mail to the parties or to their authorized representatives, as appropriate. TEA staff shall send the copy by facsimile or email to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) if SOAH has issued a proposal for decision in the case.

(c) All final decisions and orders of the SBEC under this chapter shall be in writing and signed by the chair or other board officer on behalf of the majority as provided by this chapter, board operating policies and procedures, and applicable law, unless members of the majority adopting the decision or order exercise their discretion to sign the decision or order. A final decision or order shall include findings of fact and conclusions of law separately stated. The findings of fact or conclusions of law may be adopted by reference to another document.

(d) The SBEC may adopt an order modifying findings of fact or conclusions of law in a proposal for decision submitted by the administrative law judge (ALJ) in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 2001. The SBEC may remand the matter back to the ALJ with specific instructions for the ALJ to determine an essential finding of fact or to apply the correct burden or standard of proof.

Source Note: The provisions of this §249.39 adopted to be effective March 31, 1999, 24 TexReg 2304; amended to be effective December 16, 2007, 32 TexReg 9112; amended to be effective December 19, 2011, 36 TexReg 8533; amended to be effective October 8, 2015, 40 TexReg 6892