1. (a) The HHSC Civil Rights Office (CRO) sets policies and procedures to address complaints resulting from alleged discrimination.

2. (b) A complainant may file a complaint against an HHS agency or an HHS agency contractor with the HHSC Civil Rights Office (CRO) or with an HHS agency by personal contact, letter, e-mail, Internet, telephone, or other means.

   1. (1) A complainant must file a complaint within 180 calendar days after the alleged discriminatory act. The HHSC CRO Director may extend the time period for filing a complaint.
   2. (2) When an HHS agency employee or contractor receives a complaint, the employee or contractor must forward the complaint within 10 calendar days to the HHSC CRO for processing.
   3. (3) The HHS agency employee or contractor must advise the complainant, at the services delivery point, of the right to file a complaint with the federal enforcement agency or the HHSC CRO, or both entities.
3. (c) The HHSC CRO will examine and process the complaint promptly if it determines that a complaint will be investigated.

Source Note:The provisions of this §395.21 adopted to be effective May 9, 2011, 36 TexReg 2827.