Section 159.55 - Service of Documents on Parties(a) Service Required. On the same date a document is filed at SOAH, a copy shall also be sent to each party or the party's lead counsel if the party is represented by an attorney. Documents shall be served in the manner specified by this section and in compliance with 1 Texas Administrative Code § 155.105.(b) Service Contact Information. It is the responsibility of DPS and defense counsel, if the defendant is represented by counsel, to ensure that complete and accurate service contact information is entered in the electronic filing manager for each party or attorney who is required to be served. SOAH or the Department may assist an unrepresented defendant with entering the defendant's service contact information into eFile Texas.(c) Method of Service. (1) Electronic Service. A document filed electronically at SOAH must be served electronically through the use of eFile Texas or another electronic filing service provider approved by the Texas Supreme Court if the email address of the party or attorney to be served is on file with the record of the case. If the email address of the party to be served is not on file with the electronic filing manager, the document may be served on that party or attorney under paragraph (2) of this subsection.(2) Alternative Service. If the email address of the party to be served is on not file with the record of the case, then the document may be served in person, by mail, by commercial delivery service, by fax, or by such other manner as directed by the judge. Self-represented parties may use approved alternative methods of email, facsimile transmission, mail, or hand-delivery to serve documents to the Department.(3) Service of Audio and Video Exhibits. The requirement to serve audio and video exhibits to the other party may be satisfied if the audio or video recordings are filed electronically at SOAH in the manner specified under §159.53 (relating to Filing Documents), and an electronic copy or online access to such exhibits is provided to the party or attorney to be served.(d) Certificate of Service. A person filing a document shall include a certificate of service that certifies compliance with this section and 1 Texas Administrative Code § 155.105. A certificate of service shall be sufficient if it substantially complies with the following example: "Certificate of Service: I certify that on {date}, a true and correct copy of this {name of document} has been sent to {name of opposing party or authorized representative for the opposing party} by {specify method of delivery, e.g., electronic filing, regular mail, hand-delivery, fax, certified mail.} {Signature}"(e) Proof of Service. Proof of service may be established by evidence that the document required to be served was electronically served to the party, or if party has legal representation, to party's counsel, at email address of record on file in the electronic filing manager. Alternatively, proof of service may be established by evidence that the document was served in accordance with subparagraph (c)(2) of this subsection to the last known address, as reflected on defendant's notice of suspension, request for hearing, driving record or similar documentation.(f) Delivery of SOAH Orders. All orders issued by the SOAH judge are considered received by the party upon SOAH's electronic transmission of the order to eFile Texas, if the recipient's email address is on file as part of the electronic record in eFile Texas.1 Tex. Admin. Code § 159.55
Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 31, August 2, 2024, TexReg 5761, eff. 8/4/2024