Section 601.3 - The Board's Operations(a) Content. This section sets out the organization, administration, and other general policies governing the operation of the board.(b) Officers. (1) Presiding officer. (A) The governor shall designate a member of the board as the presiding officer.(B) The presiding officer shall be referred to as the chair.(C) The chair shall preside at all board meetings at which he or she is in attendance and perform all duties prescribed by this chapter or the Act.(2) Assistant presiding officer. (A) The assistant presiding officer shall be referred to as the vice-chair.(B) The vice-chair shall perform the duties of the chair in case of the absence or disability of the chair.(C) If the chair is unable to fulfill his or her term, the vice-chair will serve until the governor designates a member of the board as a successor.(c) Elections. (1) At the first regularly scheduled meeting of each calendar year, the board shall elect a vice-chair by a majority vote of those members present and voting. The vice-chair will serve in that capacity until the first regularly scheduled meeting of the next calendar year.(2) A vacancy that occurs in the office of vice-chair may be filled by a majority vote of those members present and voting at the next board meeting.(d) Committees. (1) The board or the chair, with the approval of the board, may establish committees deemed necessary to assist the board in carrying out its duties and responsibilities.(2) The chair of the board may appoint the members of the board to serve on committees and may designate a chair of each committee.(3) Committee chairs shall make regular reports to the board in interim written reports or at regular meetings, as needed.(4) Committees shall direct all reports or other materials to the executive secretary for distribution.(5) Committees shall meet when called by the chair of the committee or when so directed by the board or the chair.(6) Committee chairs shall coordinate with the board office to determine a meeting date(s) and place(s). The committee chair shall notify the executive secretary and chair of the proposed meeting date(s) and place(s).(7) The committee chair will coordinate the meeting arrangements with the executive secretary.(8) Committee meetings shall be announced and conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551. Committee meeting agendas shall be prepared by the executive secretary with the concurrence of the committee chair.(9) An executive summary or minutes of each committee meeting shall be prepared by the executive secretary.(e) Meetings. (1) The board shall hold at least one meeting each year and additional meetings as necessary to transact its business at such designated date, place, and time as may be determined by the chair.(2) Meetings shall be announced and conducted under the provisions of the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551.(f) Quorum. A quorum of the board necessary to transact official business is five members.(g) Transaction of official business. (1) The board is authorized to transact official business only when in a legally constituted meeting with a quorum present.(2) Board action shall require a majority vote of those members present and voting.(3) The current edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall be the basis of parliamentary decisions except where otherwise provided by this chapter.(h) Agendas. (1) The executive secretary shall prepare and submit to each member of the board, at least five days prior to each meeting, an agenda, approved by the chair, that includes items requested by members; items requested by the board or the executive secretary; items required by law; and other matters of board business.(2) The official agenda of each meeting shall be filed with the secretary of state in accordance with the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551.(i) Minutes. (1) Drafts of the minutes of each meeting shall be forwarded to each member of the board for review and comments prior to approval by the board.(2) After approval by the board, the minutes are official only when affixed with the original signatures of the chair and the executive secretary.(3) The official minutes of each meeting shall be made available to the public on the department's website.(j) Attendance. (1) The policy of the board is that members will attend board and committee meetings as scheduled.(2) Except in case of emergency, board members shall notify the executive secretary at least 48 hours before a scheduled meeting if they are unable to be present.(k) Reimbursement for expenses. (1) A board member is entitled to reimbursement for transportation and incidental expenses as provided by the General Appropriations Act.(2) Payment to board members of expenses shall be on official state travel vouchers.(3) Attendance at conventions, meetings, and seminars must be clearly related to the performance of official board duties if a board member's expenses to attend are to be reimbursed.(l) Policy against discrimination. The board shall make no decision in the discharge of its statutory authority based on any person's race, creed, gender, genetic information, sexual orientation, religion, color, national origin, physical condition, geographical distribution, age, or economic status.22 Tex. Admin. Code § 601.3
The provisions of this §601.3 adopted to be effective December 15, 1992, 17 TexReg 8440; amended to be effective June 27, 1995, 20 TexReg 4344; amended to be effective August 5, 2001, 26 TexReg 5808; amended to be effective January 2, 2008, 32 TexReg 10003; amended to be effective August 30, 2012, 37 TexReg 6594