SECTION 206.93. Advisory Committee Operations and Procedures

(a) Role of advisory committee. The role of an advisory committee under this subchapter is to provide advice and recommendations to the board or the executive director. Advisory committees shall meet and carry out their functions upon a request from the department or board for advice and recommendations on any issues.

(b) Appointment of advisory committee. The board shall appoint members to an advisory committee by selecting potential members from a list provided to the board by the executive director. Each advisory committee shall elect from its members a presiding officer, who shall report the advisory committee's recommendations to the board or the executive director. The executive director may designate a division or divisions of the department to participate with, or to provide subject-matter expertise, guidance, or administrative support to the advisory committee as necessary.

(c) Member qualifications. Members shall have knowledge about and interests in, and represent a broad range of viewpoints about, the work of the committee or applicable division(s). Board members shall not serve as advisory committee members.

(d) Composition of advisory committees. In making appointments to the advisory committees, the board shall, to the extent practical, ensure representation of members from diverse geographical regions of the state.

(e) Committee size and quorum requirements. An advisory committee shall be composed of a reasonable number of members not to exceed 24 as determined by the board. A simple majority of advisory committee members will constitute a quorum. An advisory committee may only deliberate on issues within the jurisdiction of the department or any public business when a quorum is present.

(f) Terms of service. Advisory committee members will serve terms of four years. A member will serve on the committee until the member resigns, is dismissed or replaced by the board, or the member's term expires.

(g) Member training requirements. Each member of an advisory committee must receive training regarding the Open Meetings Act, Government Code, Chapter 551; and the Public Information Act, Government Code, Chapter 552.

(h) Compliance with Open Meetings Act. The advisory committee shall comply with the Open Meetings Act, Government Code, Chapter 551.

(i) Public input and participation. The advisory committee shall accept public comments made in person at advisory committee meetings or submitted in writing. Public comments made in writing should be submitted to the advisory committee five business days in advance of the advisory committee meeting with sufficient copies for all members.

(j) Reporting recommendations. Recommendations of the advisory committee shall be reported to the board at a board meeting prior to board action on issues related to the recommendations. The recommendations shall be in writing and include any necessary supporting materials. The presiding officer of the advisory committee or the presiding officer's designee may appear before the board to present the committee's advice and recommendations. This subsection does not limit the ability of the advisory committee to provide advice and recommendations to the executive director as necessary.

(k) Board use of advisory committee recommendations. In developing department policies, the board shall consider the written recommendations and reports submitted by advisory committees.

(l) Reimbursement. The department may, if authorized by law and the executive director, reimburse advisory committee members for reasonable and necessary travel expenses.

(m) Expiration dates for advisory committees. Unless a different expiration date is established by the board for the advisory committee, each advisory committee is abolished on the fourth anniversary of its creation by the board.

Source Note: The provisions of this §206.93 adopted to be effective February 4, 2010, 35 TexReg 654; amended to be effective March 29, 2012, 37 TexReg 2086; amended to be effective June 25, 2015, 40 TexReg 4000; amended to be effective March 9, 2016, 41 TexReg 1720; amended to be effective August 29, 2019, 44 TexReg 4614; amended to be effective November 2, 2023, 48 TexReg 6386