In 1994, the Thai Parliament approved legislation to create the Tambon Administrative Organization (TAO), as another type and at the lowest tier of local government. The TAO was vested with the responsibility to address hardship issues and promote the well-being of the local population. By creating the TAO, the PAO was left with fewer responsibilities and less authority. To allow the PAO to manifest its same functional power, a new law was passed in 1997, which specified the revised role and jurisdiction of the PAO.