1. (a) The board may create one or more advisory committees to make recommendations to it and to the department. Any advisory committee created by the board has the purposes, powers, and duties, including the manner of reporting its work, prescribed by the board.

2. (b) The board shall appoint persons to each advisory committee who:

   1. (1) are selected from a list provided by the executive director, or a designee; and
   2. (2) have knowledge about and interests in, and represent a broad range of viewpoints about the work of the advisory committee or applicable division of the department.
3. (c) Unless a member resigns from an advisory committee, the member continues to serve on the committee until the member is dismissed or replaced by the board, or until the committee concludes all business or is disbanded. The executive director may designate a division of the department to participate with, or to provide subject-matter expertise, guidance, or administrative support to the advisory committee.
4. (d) A summary of the business undertaken by each advisory committee shall be prepared and filed with the board or its designee.
5. (e) All summaries and other records of each advisory committee proceeding are records of the board that may be subject to disclosure under the provisions of Government Code, Chapter 552.
6. (f) The department may, if authorized by law and the executive director, reimburse advisory committee members for reasonable and necessary travel expenses. Current rules and laws governing reimbursement of expenses for state employees shall govern reimbursement of expenses for advisory committee members.
7. (g) Advisory committee members are subject to the same laws and policies governing ethical standards of conduct as those for board members and employees of the department.
8. (h) In developing department policies, the board will consider the recommendations submitted by advisory committees.
9. (i) The designated division shall report to the board on actions, including any advice and recommendations, of an advisory committee prior to board action on a pertinent issue. The chair of the advisory committee or the chair's designee may appear before the board prior to board action on a posted agenda item to present the committee's advice and recommendations.
10. (j) 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.