Health and Human Services Rulemaking

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Rules are developed to show how Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) implements state and federal law. To be good stewards of the public trust, HHS takes into account stakeholder input when rules are being written or updated to ensure interested parties have a chance to contribute to the process.

Administrative Rule Transfers

HHS rules in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Title 1, Title 25, and Title 40 are moving, as a result of the changes in system structure made by the Texas Legislature to the HHS System in 2015 and 2017. To accommodate the large volume of new and old rules, the Secretary of State created new Title 26, Health and Human Services. The move will put all HHS rules in one place and make them easier to find. Stay up to date on new rules locations in the TAC.

Want to participate in the rulemaking process?

Comment on Rules

How Can I Participate in the Process?

Engaging the public and stakeholders is an important element of the HHS rulemaking process. HHS provides informal and formal opportunities for the public and stakeholders to participate in the process.

Interested parties can participate by:

Advisory Committees

For more information about HHS advisory committees, please visit the advisory committee web page.

HHSC Executive Council

The HHSC Executive Council reviews proposed rules at a scheduled meeting. Visit the HHS meetings and events page to learn about upcoming meetings.

How to Submit Comments

The HHS Rules Coordination Office coordinates the rulemaking process and assists health and human services staff involved in developing and publishing rules. For more information about how to submit comments or questions about HHS rulemaking, please email the Rules Coordination Office.

Tips for Submitting Public Comments

HHSC knows that our stakeholders spend a lot of time and energy thoughtfully considering proposed rules and policies, so we want to make sure that we can fully understand and consider each comment submitted. With that in mind, here are some tips for submitting comments.

Point to a specific rule or policy section

For example, "These rules/policies are too prescriptive" may be a valid comment, but it doesn't tell HHS staff what the commenter thinks should be changed.

Consider pointing to specific requirements: "§597.201(a) states that foster children must play outside at least 2 hours per day. This seems too prescriptive."

Suggest an alternative

In the example above, the commenter thinks the requirement is too prescriptive, but doesn't offer any specific suggestions. HHS staff can't be sure how the commenter would like the rule/policy changed to be less prescriptive.

The commenter may want to add, "Consider an 'average' of 2 hours per day" or "Consider exceptions for children with medical conditions as well as extreme weather, such as a hurricane."

Cite your sources

For example, a rule or policy requires facility staff to have 50 hours of annual training, but you would like to suggest 30 hours. HHS chooses these types of requirements based on research, such as federal requirements, national association recommendations, industry standards, requirements for staff in similar settings, etc.

If a commenter suggests that a requirement be reduced, the comment is stronger if it includes a research source as validation for the suggestion.

Comment on rule/policy with which you agree

A rule/policy may be revised because 20 commenters asked for a change, but what if 100 potential commenters liked the proposed rule/policy and chose not to submit a comment?

Particularly for situations in which stakeholders may disagree, commenting on your support for a rule/policy may provide a valuable counterweight to other commenters who request a change.

What Happens Once A Rule Is Adopted?

After a rule is adopted by the Executive Commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, the adopted rule is published in the Texas Register. Once effective, rules are codified into the TAC, which is maintained by the Secretary of State.

To be notified when rules are adopted in the Texas Register, visit the Secretary of State site to register for email notification at http://sos.state.tx.us/texreg/subinfo.shtml.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a rule?

A rule is a specific type of state agency statement that implements or interprets law, prescribes policy, or describes the procedure or practice requirements of the agency. State agencies only adopt rules for aspects of their work that affect the public; internal management or organization will not be described in rule.

How is a rule different from a statute?

A Texas statute is created or amended by the Texas Legislature. A rule is adopted by a state agency that has either specific or implied rulemaking authority.

Why are rules needed?

Rules are often needed for a state agency to carry out its statutory duties. Rules hold the force of law and are a state agency's opportunity to give the public more detail about how the agency will implement law.

What is the Texas Register?

The Texas Register is a weekly publication of the Texas Secretary of State that includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions; notices of state agency review of agency rules; governor's appointments; attorney general opinions; and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals and public hearings.

What is the difference between a proposed rule and an adopted rule?

A proposed rule is a rule that a state agency intends to adopt. The state agency provides notice of this intention by publishing a notice of the proposed rule in the Texas Register. The notice includes a request for comments on the proposed rule. If the state agency has not adopted or actively withdrawn the proposed rule, it is automatically withdrawn six months after the published notice.

An adopted rule is the version of a rule that is adopted by a state agency. A rule may only be adopted after the state agency has given a reasonable opportunity for people to submit comments on the proposed rule. An adopted rule is filed with the Texas Secretary of State for publication in the Texas Register. Adopted rules are codified in the Texas Administrative Code, which is also maintained by the Texas Secretary of State. Health and Human Services system rules are located in Titles 1, 25, 26 and 40 of the Texas Administrative Code.

When does an adopted rule become effective?

Typically, a rule takes effect 20 calendar days after the date the adopted rule is filed with the Texas Secretary of State. A state agency can request a later effective date, as needed, but not an earlier effective date.

How up to date is the Texas Administrative Code?

The Texas Secretary of State updates the Texas Administrative Code daily.

Who can I contact for more information related to Texas Health and Human Services rules?

How can I submit a petition for rulemaking to the executive commissioner?

Send a petition for an HHSC or DSHS rulemaking to HHSRulesCoordinationOffice@hhs.texas.gov; mail to 4601 W. Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78751-3146, or P.O. Box 13247, Austin, Texas 78711-3247; or hand deliver.

See 1 TAC §351.2 for how to prepare a petition for an HHS rulemaking.