Not less than 30 days after the respondent has filed an answer under § 70.105 of this title (relating to Answer), either the respondent or the executive director may request that the chief clerk refer the case to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) for a contested enforcement case hearing. The parties may request this referral by filing a letter with the chief clerk and serving that letter on the other parties. If the chief clerk receives authorization to refer a case to SOAH, the chief clerk shall refer the case to SOAH under § 80.6 of this title (relating to Referral to SOAH).
30 Tex. Admin. Code § 70.109