1. (a) An advisory committee to assist the commission in administering this subchapter is composed of the following persons appointed by the commission:

   1. (1) two persons with disabilities that impair the ability to effectively access the telephone network other than disabilities described by Subdivisions (2)-(7);
   2. (2) one deaf person recommended by the Texas Deaf Caucus;
   3. (3) one deaf person recommended by the Texas Association of the Deaf;
   4. (4) one person with a hearing impairment recommended by Self-Help for the Hard of Hearing;
   5. (5) one person with a hearing impairment recommended by the American Association of Retired Persons;
   6. (6) one deaf and blind person recommended by the Texas Deaf/Blind Association;
   7. (7) one person with a speech impairment and one person with a speech and hearing impairment recommended by the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities;
   8. (8) two representatives of telecommunications utilities, one representing a nonlocal exchange utility and one representing a local exchange company, chosen from a list of candidates provided by the Texas Telephone Association;
   9. (9) two persons, at least one of whom is deaf, with experience in providing relay services recommended by the department; and
   10. (10) two public members recommended by organizations representing consumers of telecommunications services.
2. (b) Members of the advisory committee serve two-year terms. A member whose term has expired shall continue to serve until a qualified replacement is appointed.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 18.08(b), eff. Sept. 1, 1999;

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1553, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 532 (S.B. 512), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2013.