| (a) The commission may establish advisory committees
in accordance with Texas Government Code, Chapter 2110. The following
shall apply to each advisory committee:
(1) Agency role. The executive director may direct
one or more staff members of the agency to assist each advisory committee.
These positions shall be non-voting.
(2) Committee size and appointment of members. Each
advisory committee shall be composed of nine members appointed by
the commission. Members of each committee serve at the pleasure of
the commission and may be removed from a committee by a majority vote
of the commission.
(3) Committee chair and vice chair.
(A) The committee chair will be selected by the commission.
The committee chair shall serve a term as determined by the commission.
The committee chair determines the agenda for each meeting.
(B) The vice chair of each advisory committee is selected
by the committee's voting members. Committee vice chair term lengths
are one or two-year terms as determined by the committee's voting
members and are limited to two years of service as the vice chair
during their appointment to the committee. The vice chair shall perform
the chair duties when the chair is unavailable or unable to perform.
(4) Conditions of membership.
(A) Terms of service. The term of office for each member
will be determined by the commission in order to achieve staggered
terms. In the event that a member cannot complete his or her term,
or is removed by the commission, the commission shall appoint a qualified
replacement to serve the remainder of the term.
(B) Participation. Participation on an advisory committee
is voluntary.
(C) Compensation. Advisory committee members appointed
by the commission shall serve without compensation.
(D) Reimbursement. The commission may, if authorized
by law and the executive director, reimburse a member of a committee
for reasonable and necessary expenses up to four times per calendar
year. Current rules and laws governing reimbursement of expenses for
state employees shall govern reimbursement of expenses for advisory
committee members.
(5) Training. Each committee member shall receive initial
training to ensure compliance with the Open Meetings Act. Training
should also include an overview of the agency's mission and organizational
structure, the overall purpose or goals of the committee, as well
as other information that will assist members to accomplish committee
goals.
(6) Responsibilities. Each advisory committee will
review issues and provide advice to the commission, as charged by
the commission.
(7) Meetings. Each advisory committee shall meet as
needed by the commission. Advisory committee meetings may be conducted
by video conference. Each advisory committee shall be subject to meeting
at the call of the committee chair or designee. A quorum shall consist
of a majority of the committee membership. The committees shall comply
with Open Meetings Act requirements as provided in Texas Government
Code, Chapter 551.
(8) Reports. The committee chair or designee of each
advisory committee shall regularly report to the commission regarding
its activities and recommendations, and, when requested by the commission,
shall file with the commission a report containing:
(A) the minutes of meetings;
(B) a memo summarizing the meetings; and
(C) a list of the committee's recommendations, if any.
(9) Evaluation and duration. Each advisory committee
shall remain in existence as long as deemed necessary by the commission
based on a regular evaluation of the continuing need for each advisory
committee. The executive director or staff may assist with this evaluation
at the direction of the commission.
(10) Formation of subcommittees. Each advisory committee
shall notify the commission of any adopted subcommittees and their
purpose in its quarterly report.
(b) Veteran Services Advisory Committee.
(1) Purpose. The purpose of the Veteran Services Advisory
Committee (VSAC) is to develop recommendations to improve overall
services to veterans, their families, and survivors by the TVC. TVC
leadership will provide veteran service topics to the committee for
analysis and feedback.
(2) Committee member qualifications. The Committee
shall be comprised of veterans and/or non-veterans that are interested
in significantly improving the quality of life for all Texas veterans,
their families, and survivors.
(c) Fund for Veterans' Assistance Advisory Committee.
(1) Purpose. The purpose of the Fund for Veterans'
Assistance Advisory Committee is to evaluate grant applications and
make recommendations to the commission.
(2) Committee member qualifications.
(A) Committee members may include representatives from
veterans' organizations, non-profit or philanthropic organizations,
veterans or family members of veterans, and other individuals with
the experience and knowledge to assist the committee with achievement
of its purpose.
(B) Committee members may not include officers, directors
or employees of organization or entities that have an open Fund for
Veterans' Assistance grant during the member's tenure or that intend
to submit an application for a Fund for Veterans' Assistant grant.
(C) Committee members will be required to sign non-disclosure
and conflict of interest agreements before reviewing grant applications.
Committee members found in violation of the non-disclosure agreement
will be prohibited from evaluating grant applications and making recommendations
to the commission. Committee members found in violation of any agreement
may also be removed from the committee by the commission.
(3) Meetings. The Fund for Veterans' Assistance Advisory
Committee shall meet as needed to make grant recommendations to the
commission.
(d) Veterans County Service Officer Advisory Committee.
(1) Purpose. The purpose of the Veterans County Service
Officer Advisory Committee is to develop recommendations to improve
the support and training of Veterans County Service Officers and to
increase coordination between Veterans County Service Officers and
the Texas Veterans Commission related to the statewide network of
services being provided to veterans.
(2) Committee member qualifications. The members shall
be current Veterans County Service Officers with the experience and
knowledge to assist the committee with achievement of its purpose.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §452.2 adopted to be effective November 15, 2007, 32 TexReg 8168; amended to be effective December 12, 2011, 36 TexReg 8387; amended to be effective May 24, 2012, 37 TexReg 3737; amended to be effective May 30, 2013, 38 TexReg 3357; amended to be effective November 30, 2014, 39 TexReg 9267; amended to be effective June 3, 2018, 43 TexReg 3482; amended to be effective June 7, 2020, 45 TexReg 3640; amended to be effective June 3, 2021, 46 TexReg 3419; amended to be effective January 1, 2023, 47 TexReg 9037; amended to be effective June 1, 2023, 48 TexReg 2728 |
