37 TAC § 23.63. Informal Hearings; Settlement Conference

(a) A person who receives notice of the department's intention to deny an application for an inspector certificate, to suspend or revoke an inspector certificate or to impose an administrative penalty under §23.62 of this title (relating to Violations and Penalty Schedule), may appeal the decision by submitting a request to appeal by mail, facsimile, or electronic mail, to the department in the manner provided on the department's Vehicle Inspection Program website within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of notice of the department's proposed action. If a written request to appeal is not submitted within thirty (30) calendar days of the date notice was received, the right to an informal hearing or settlement conference, as applicable, or a hearing before the State Office of Administrative Hearings, is waived, and the action becomes final.

(b) If the action is based on the person's criminal history, a preliminary, telephonic hearing will be scheduled. Following the hearing, the department will either dismiss the proceedings and withdraw the proposed action, or issue a written statement of findings to the respondent either upholding or modifying the original proposed action.

(c) If the proposed action is based on an administrative violation, a settlement conference will be scheduled. The settlement conference may be conducted in person or by telephone, by agreement of the parties. Following the settlement conference, the parties will execute an agreed order, or, if no agreement is reached, the department will issue a written determination either upholding or modifying the originally proposed action.

(d) The department's findings following a preliminary hearing, or its determination following a settlement conference, may be appealed to the State Office of Administrative Hearings by submitting a request by mail, facsimile, or electronic mail, to the department in the manner provided on the department's Vehicle Inspection Program website, within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of the findings or determination. If a written request is not submitted within thirty (30) calendar days of the date notice was received, the findings or determination shall become final.

(e) Requests for continuance must be submitted in writing at least three (3) business days prior to the scheduled hearing or conference. Requests must be based on good cause. Multiple requests may be presumed to lack good cause and may be denied on that basis.