34 Tex. Admin. Code § 43.218 - Pre-filed Direct Testimony in Disability Appeal Proceedings

(a) In a contested case concerning Medical Board denial of certification of disability or a finding that a disability retiree is no longer mentally or physically incapacitated from the performance of duty, all testimony and other evidence, including medical or employment records, that the petitioner intends to offer in petitioner's direct case shall be pre-filed at least 90 days before the date of the hearing on the merits. Testimony shall include all expert and fact witnesses, including that of a petitioner who intends to testify. In order to avoid any unnecessary expense and time associated with adjudicative hearings and in accordance with Government Code § 824.303, which requires Medical Board certification in order for a person to be retired, TRS staff shall be given adequate opportunity to present such information to the Medical Board for consideration before the hearing on the merits. If, upon consideration of the information petitioner intends to offer at hearing, the Medical Board certifies the person as disabled, TRS staff or petitioner may move for dismissal of the appeal. If, however, the Medical Board does not certify the person as disabled, the petitioner may continue to prosecute the appeal as previously docketed and referred for an adjudicative hearing. The petitioner shall not be permitted to introduce direct testimony and evidence that has not been pre-filed and made available to the Medical Board for consideration.

(b) The pre-filed testimony of a witness upon direct examination shall be in question and answer form. The qualifications of an expert witness shall be described in question and answer testimony or by attachment of a resume as an exhibit to the testimony. Pre-filed testimony of a witness may be offered into the record by a party during its direct case. The testimony shall not be admitted into the hearing record in whole or in part unless the witness is available at the hearing on the merits and, upon being sworn, identifies the pre-filed testimony as a true and accurate record of what his or her testimony would be if the witness were testifying orally. A witness may be given an opportunity to correct errors. After calling the witness and authenticating the testimony in this manner, a party may offer the testimony into the record. Pre-filed testimony is subject to the rules of evidence, including objections or motions to strike when such testimony is offered, as if the testimony were presented orally at a hearing. Such testimony, if admitted, may be incorporated in the record as if read or received as an exhibit. The witness shall be subject to cross-examination by other parties after the admission of the pre-filed testimony in whole or in part, and the party offering the testimony may conduct re-direct examination of the witness at the conclusion of cross-examination.

(c) Pre-filed documentary evidence other than testimony of witnesses may be offered into the record by a party during its direct case. All pre-filed documentary evidence is subject to the rules of evidence.

Notes

34 Tex. Admin. Code § 43.218

Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 52, December 27, 2024, TexReg 10651, eff. 1/2/2025