1. (a) Policy. The Texas Board of Criminal Justice is committed to provide access and opportunity for public comment on issues within the jurisdiction of the board, and invites public testimony on items that are part of the board's posted agenda as provided for in subsection (b) of this section. Because the Open Meetings Act prohibits deliberation on items that are not posted, however, the board does not provide for public presentation on non-posted issues. Persons outside the agency who wish to have items placed on the board agenda are invited to follow the procedure in subsection (d) of this section.

2. (b) Statements concerning items that are part of the board's posted agenda. Persons who desire to make presentations to the board concerning matters on the agenda for a scheduled board meeting or subcommittee meeting shall complete registration cards which shall be made available at the entry to the place where the board's scheduled meeting is to be held. The registration cards shall include blanks in which all of the following information must be disclosed:

   1. (1) name of the person making a presentation;
   2. (2) a statement as to whether the person is being reimbursed for the presentation; and if so, the name of the person or entity on whose behalf the presentation is made;
   3. (3) a statement as to whether the presenter has registered as a lobbyist in relationship to the matter in question;
   4. (4) a reference to the agenda item which the person wishes to discuss before the board;
   5. (5) an indication as to whether the presenter wishes to speak for or against the proposed agenda item;
   6. (6) a statement verifying that all factual information to be presented shall be true and correct to the best of the knowledge of the speaker.
3. (c) Discretion of the chairman of the board. The chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice shall have discretion in setting reasonable limits on the time to be allocated for each presentation. If several persons wish to address the board on the same agenda item, it shall be within the discretion of the chair to request that persons who wish to address the same side of the issue coordinate their comments, or limit their comments to an expression for views previously articulated by persons speaking on the same side of an issue. The chairman shall provide opportunity for testimony of a person who has submitted a registration card prior to the board taking action on the item that the person indicates a wish to discuss.
4. (d) Requests that issues be placed on an agenda. Persons outside the agency who wish to bring issues before the board shall address their request to the Chairman, Texas Board of Criminal Justice, P.O. Box 13084, Austin, Texas 78711. Such requests should be submitted at least 50 days in advance of the board meeting. The decision whether to calendar a matter for discussion before the full board, a board committee, a board liaison, or with a designated staff member, shall be within the discretion of the chairman.
5. (e) Disability accommodation. Persons with disabilities who have special communication or accommodation needs and who plan to attend a meeting may contact the office of the administrative assistant to the chairman in Austin. Requests should be made at least two days before a meeting. The department will make every reasonable effort to accommodate these needs.

6. (f) Conduct and decorum. The board will receive public input as authorized by this section, subject to the following guidelines.

   1. (1) Questioning of those making presentations will be reserved to board members and staff recognized by the chairman.
   2. (2) Presentations shall remain pertinent to the issue being discussed.
   3. (3) A person who disrupts a meeting must leave the meeting room if ordered to do so by the chairman.
   4. (4) A person may not assign a portion of his or her time to another speaker.
7. (g) It is a crime to carry a licensed concealed handgun at a meeting of the board.

Source Note:The provisions of this §151.4 adopted to be effective February 15, 1993, 18 TexReg 590; amended to be effective April 8, 1996, 21 TexReg 2476.