1. (a) An administrative law judge is an attorney appointed by the director of the Texas Department of Human Services' (DHS's) Hearings Department, or his designee, responsible for prehearing matters of a contested case before the transfer to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH). These matters include, but are not limited to, signing

   1. (1) settlement agreements,
   2. (2) dismissal orders, and
   3. (3) subpoenas.

2. (b) The administrative law judge is the commissioner's designee for purposes of

   1. (1) assessing administrative penalties,
   2. (2) issuing default, final, and other orders, and
   3. (3) ruling on any motions for rehearing.

Source Note:The provisions of this §357.487 adopted to be effective November 1, 2001, 26 TexReg 8356; transferred effective September 1, 2004, as published in the Texas Register September 17, 2004, 29 TexReg 9013.