Opinion ID: 894529
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Copies of the Guideline

Text: PAT argues that copies of the proposed Guideline were not available to the public after the Guideline was adopted in its final form to allow a side-by-side analysis of changes to the rule. This, however, is not an APA requirement. The APA permits the secretary of state to omit information otherwise required to be published in the Texas Register if publication of the information would be cumbersome, expensive, or otherwise inexpedient, provided that copies of the omitted material are made available at a specified location by the adopting agency. Tex. Gov't Code § 2002.014. The purpose of section 2002.014 is to allow interested parties to obtain a copy of the material omitted from the Texas Register, prior to a rule's adoption, so that they may participate in the rulemaking process. This purpose was served in the present case. The Guideline, which is over 400 pages in length, was published in the Texas Register by reference on October 20, 1995. 20 Tex. Reg. at 8573-75. In the rule proposal, TWCC stated that interested parties could obtain copies of the Guideline at the agency's place of business. 20 Tex. Reg. at 8574-75. Evidenced by the numerous comments that TWCC received and subsequently addressed in the adoption order for Rule 134.201, see 21 Tex. Reg. at 2366-91, copies of the proposed Guideline were available, and many persons took the opportunity to offer meaningful and timely comments for TWCC's consideration. TWCC complied with the procedures specified under section 2002.014 of the Government Code.