Section 159.53 - Filing Documents(a) All notices, pleadings, motions, exhibits, and other documents for ALR proceedings must be filed in the manner specified by this section and in compliance with 1 Texas Administrative Code §§ 155.101-.103.(b) Methods of Filing. (1) Electronic Filing. Defense counsel and the Department shall electronically file all notices, pleadings, motions, exhibits, and other documents for an ALR proceeding at SOAH by use of eFile Texas or another electronic filing service provider approved by the Texas Supreme Court. Parties not represented by an attorney are strongly encouraged to electronically file documents but may use alternative methods of filing described in paragraph (2) of this subsection. (A) Party Information. As soon as practicable after the initial docketing of an ALR proceeding at SOAH, each party or attorney of record shall ensure that the electronic filing manager contains complete and accurate party contact information known to the parties at the time, including the entry and verification of the mailing address, phone number, and email address of each party.(B) Designation of Lead Counsel. If the party will be represented by an attorney, the lead counsel who is primarily responsible for the representation shall ensure that the information entered into the electronic filing manager includes the designation of lead counsel and lead counsel's state bar identification number.(C) Service Contact Information. Each party, or lead counsel if the party will be represented by an attorney, shall ensure that the electronic filing manager contains complete and accurate service contact information known to the parties at the time of filing, including the entry and verification of the email address of each party or attorney who is required to be served.(i) The service contact information maintained in the electronic filing manager must be sufficient to allow SOAH and the parties to electronically serve documents through eFile Texas.(ii) SOAH may rely on the service contact information on file in eFile Texas for electronic delivery of orders, decisions, and other case-related communications from SOAH. SOAH is not required to deliver copies of orders, decisions, or other case related communications to persons who are not identified as a party, lead counsel, or service contact for the case within eFile Texas.(iii) Failure to enter and verify service contact information within eFile Texas may result in a failure to comply with legal requirements for service of process.(D) Document Titles and Use of Proper Filing Codes. All documents submitted for electronic filing must be properly titled or described in the electronic filing manager in a manner that permits SOAH and the parties to reasonably ascertain its contents, including through use of the correct filing code for the type of document.(2) Filing by Self-represented Parties. Defendants without an attorney are strongly encouraged, but not required, to file electronically in the manner described in paragraph (1) of this subsection. Self-represented parties may use approved alternative methods of email, facsimile transmission, mail, or hand-delivery in the manner specified on SOAH's website.(3) Alternative Filing Methods. For good cause, a judge may permit a party to file documents in paper or another acceptable form in a particular case.(c) Requirements for All Filers. (1) Address of Record Required. The defendant, the Department, and lead counsel for each party shall provide and maintain a current mailing address and email address on file with SOAH during the pendency of the proceeding. SOAH and the parties may maintain the parties' address information on file as part of the electronic record in eFile Texas.(2) Pleadings and Motions. All pleadings, motions, or applications to the judge for an order, whether in the form of a motion, plea, or other form of request, must be filed with the SOAH Chief Clerk's Office in writing and signed by the party, unless presented orally during a hearing.(3) Separate Submissions Required. Different document types cannot be combined into a single submission for filing. A party may not combine motions requesting different types of relief or action into a single filing but must submit each motion separately. If the document submitted for filing is an exhibit, it must be properly identified as an exhibit and submitted separately from motions, pleadings, or other filings, unless the exhibit is attached as a necessary supporting document to a pleading.(4) Confidential Filing Required. To avoid the public disclosure or redaction of confidential information or personal identifying information necessary for the resolution of an ALR proceeding, all documents submitted for filing shall be designated as "confidential" at the time of submission. Failure to correctly submit documents as "confidential" may result in the record being publicly-accessible through the re:SearchTX court records portal.(5) Exhibit Submission.(A) Prefiling Required. All exhibits shall be prefiled at least two days before the hearing to avoid unnecessary surprise or delay. The judge, in his or her discretion, may grant or deny the presentation and admission of exhibits that were not timely prefiled in accordance with this section.(B) Organization of Exhibits. Exhibits should be numbered sequentially, and multipage documents shall be paginated or Bates stamped. If multiple exhibits are combined into a single document for submission, then the document must be bookmarked to allow the judge and parties to locate each exhibit within the record.(C) DPS Notice of Hearing. The Department must file a copy of the notice of hearing and any amended or corrected notices of hearing.(D) Audio and Video Evidence. Evidentiary exhibits in the form of audio or video recordings shall be filed electronically in the manner specified on SOAH's website. Audiovisual evidence may only be submitted in a common, non-proprietary file format (e.g., MP4, WMV, AVI, MPEG) that can be reviewed by the judge and presented at the hearing without the need for special equipment or software.(E) Supplemental Exhibits. Any exhibits admitted at a hearing that were not prefiled as required by this section, shall be filed electronically by the party who offered the exhibit by no later than the next business day after the conclusion of the hearing. The parties may only supplement the record with exhibits that were offered and admitted as evidence, or for which an offer of proof was presented at the hearing.1 Tex. Admin. Code § 159.53
Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 31, August 2, 2024, TexReg 5761, eff. 8/4/2024