(2) The committee and its members may not participate
in legislative activity in the name of the commission, the department,
or the committee except with approval through the commission's legislative
process. Committee members are not prohibited from representing themselves
or other entities in the legislative process.
(3) A committee member may not accept or solicit any
benefit that might reasonably tend to influence the member in the
discharge of the member's official duties.
(4) A committee member may not disclose confidential
information acquired through his or her committee membership.
(5) A committee member may not knowingly solicit, accept,
or agree to accept any benefit for having exercised the member's official
powers or duties in favor of another person.
(6) A committee member who has a personal or private
interest in a matter pending before the committee must publicly disclose
the fact in a committee meeting and may not vote or otherwise participate
in the matter. The phrase "personal or private interest" means the
committee member has a direct pecuniary interest in the matter, but
does not include the committee member's engagement in a profession,
trade, or occupation when the member's interest is the same as all
others similarly engaged in the profession, trade, or occupation.
(o) Reimbursement for expenses. In accordance with
the requirements set forth in Texas Government Code, Chapter 2110,
a committee member may receive reimbursement for the member's expenses
incurred for each day the member engages in official committee business
if authorized by the General Appropriations Act or budget execution
process.
(1) Only travel expenses for the two consumer representatives
are reimbursed for each meeting attended.
(2) A committee member who is an employee of a state
agency, other than the department, may not receive reimbursement for
expenses from the department.
(3) Each member who is to be reimbursed for expenses
submits to department staff the member's receipts for expenses and
any required official forms not later than 14 days after each committee
meeting.
(4) Requests for reimbursement of expenses are made
on official state vouchers prepared by department staff.
|