1. (a) The board may meet up to four times a year, with a minimum of two times a year to carry out the mandates of the Act.
2. (b) Special meetings may be called by the presiding officer of the board, by resolution of the board, or upon written request to the presiding officer of the board signed by at least three members of the board.
3. (c) Board and committee meetings shall, to the extent possible, be conducted pursuant to the provisions of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised unless, by rule, the board adopts a different procedure.
4. (d) All elections and any other issues requiring a vote of the board shall be decided by a simple majority of the members present. A quorum for transaction of any business by the board shall be one more than half the board's membership at the time of the meeting. If more than two candidates contest an election or if no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast on the first ballot, a second ballot shall be conducted between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes.
5. (e) The board, at a regular meeting or special meeting, may elect from its membership a presiding officer and a secretary for one year.
6. (f) The board, at a regular meeting or special meeting, upon majority vote of the members present, may remove the presiding officer or the secretary from office.

7. (g) The following are standing and permanent committees of the board. The responsibilities and authority of these committees shall include those duties and powers as defined in paragraphs (1)-(3) of this subsection and such other responsibilities and authority which the board may from time to time delegate to these committees.

   1. (1) Licensure Committee.

      1. (A) Draft and review proposed rules regarding licensure, and make recommendations to the board regarding changes or implementation of such rules.
      2. (B) Draft and review proposed rules pertaining to the overall licensure process, and make recommendations to the board regarding changes or implementation of such rules.
      3. (C) Receive and review applications for licensure in the event the eligibility for licensure of an applicant is in question.
      4. (D) Present the results of reviews of applications for licensure, and make recommendations to the board regarding licensure of applicants whose eligibility is in question.
      5. (E) Make recommendations to the board regarding matters brought to the attention of the Licensure Committee.

   2. (2) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee.

      1. (A) Draft and review proposed rules regarding the discipline of physician assistants and enforcement of the Physician Assistant Licensing Act.
      2. (B) Oversee the disciplinary process and give guidance to the board and staff regarding methods to improve the disciplinary process and more effectively enforce the Physician Assistant Licensing Act.
      3. (C) Monitor the effectiveness, appropriateness, and timeliness of the disciplinary process.
      4. (D) Make recommendations regarding resolution and disposition of specific cases and approve, adopt, modify, or reject recommendations from staff or representatives of the board regarding actions to be taken on pending cases. Approve dismissals of complaints and closure of investigations.
      5. (E) Draft and review proposed ethics guidelines and rules for the practice of physician assistants, and make recommendations to the board regarding the adoption of such ethics guidelines and rules.
      6. (F) Make recommendations to the board and staff regarding policies, priorities, budget, and any other matters related to the disciplinary process and enforcement of the Physician Assistant Licensing Act.
      7. (G) Make recommendations to the board regarding matters brought to the attention of the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee.

   3. (3) Long Range Planning Committee.

      1. (A) Formulate and make recommendations to the board concerning future board goals and objectives and the establishment of priorities and methods for their accomplishment.
      2. (B) Study and make recommendations to the board regarding the role and responsibility of the board officers and committees.
      3. (C) Study and make recommendations to the board regarding ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the administration of the board.
      4. (D) Study and make recommendations to the board regarding board rules or any area of a board function that, in the judgment of the committee needs consideration.
      5. (E) Study and make recommendations to the board regarding legislative changes pertinent to the practice of Physician Assistants.
      6. (F) Study and make recommendations to the board regarding financial issues.
8. (h) Meetings of the board and of its committees are open to the public unless such meetings are conducted in executive session pursuant to the Open Meetings Act, the Physician Assistant Licensing Act, or the Medical Practice Act. In order that board meetings may be conducted safely, efficiently, and with decorum, members of the public shall refrain at all times from smoking or using tobacco products, eating, or reading newspapers and magazines. Members of the public may not engage in disruptive activity that interferes with board proceedings, including excessive movement within the meeting room, noise or loud talking, and resting of feet on tables and chairs. The public shall remain within those areas designated as open to the public. Members of the public shall not address or question board members during meetings unless recognized by the board's presiding officer pursuant to a published agenda item.
9. (i) Journalists have the same right of access as other members of the public to board meetings conducted in open session, and are also subject to the rules of conduct described in subsection (h) of this section. Observers of any board meeting may make audio or visual recordings of such proceedings conducted in open session subject to the following limitations: the board's presiding officer may request periodically that camera operators extinguish their artificial lights to allow excessive heat to dissipate; camera operators may not assemble or disassemble their equipment while the board is in session and conducting business; persons seeking to position microphones for recording board proceedings may not disrupt the meeting or disturb participants; journalists may conduct interviews in the reception area of the medical board's offices or, at the discretion of the board's presiding officer, in the meeting room after recess or adjournment; no interview may be conducted in the hallways of the medical board's offices; and the board's presiding officer may exclude from a meeting any person who, after being duly warned, persists in conduct described in this subsection and subsection (h) of this section.
10. (j) The secretary of the board shall assume the duties of the presiding officer in the event of the presiding officer's absence or incapacity.
11. (k) In the event of the absence or temporary incapacity of the presiding officer, and the secretary, the members of the board may elect another member to act as the presiding officer of a board meeting or may elect an interim acting presiding officer for the duration of the absences or incapacity.
12. (l) Upon the death, resignation, removal or permanent incapacity of the presiding officer or the secretary, the board shall elect from its membership an officer to fill the vacant position. Such an election shall be conducted as soon as practicable at a regular or special meeting of the board.

Source Note:The provisions of this §185.3 adopted to be effective January 12, 1996, 21 TexReg 109; amended to be effective November 3, 2002, 27 TexReg 10027; amended to be effective June 29, 2003, 28 TexReg 4634.