| (a) The THGAAC shall hold regular quarterly meetings.
The THGAAC may hold such other meetings at such other times and places
as it may schedule in formal session. The chair may call special meetings
of the advisory commission at his or her discretion, provided that
10-days' notification is given to the advisory commission members.
The chair shall call special meetings of the advisory commission at
any time upon written request to the chair signed by a quorum of the
THGAAC, provided that 10-days' notification is given to the advisory
commission members. Members of the public shall be provided with a
reasonable opportunity to appear before the THGAAC at every meeting
of the THGAAC and to speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of
the THGAAC. The time for each person to speak may be limited by the
chair to expedite the business of the advisory commission.
(b) Five members of the advisory commission constitutes
a quorum authorized to transact businesses of the advisory commission.
(c) No proxies for advisory commission members are
allowed.
(d) At the last quarterly meeting in odd-numbered years
beginning in 2023, the chair shall appoint three people to serve on
a nominating committee, including a chair of that committee. The positions
available for nomination by the committee are the vice-chair and secretary.
The nominating committee will nominate only one person for each elective
office on the advisory commission. A committee member shall contact
each person it wishes to nominate in order to obtain the person's
acceptance of nomination. An advisory commission member may hold only
one elective office on the advisory commission at a time. The chair
may appoint an interim nominating committee to bring forward candidates
for vice-chair and secretary for the advisory commission's consideration,
to serve until the first nominating committee is created under this
subsection in 2023 and an election can be held.
(e) The nominating committee will present its report
of nominees at the first advisory commission meeting in even-numbered
years beginning in 2024. The chair shall call for further nominations
from the floor. After all nominations are made, the chair will close
the nominations and ask for a vote by voice or show of hands. If there
is a simple majority for one person for an elective office, that person
is deemed elected. If there is not a majority for any one person in
an office, the advisory commission shall hold an election runoff for
each such office between the two people receiving the highest number
of votes for that office.
(f) In the event of a vacancy in any elective office
of the advisory commission, an election shall be held at the next
advisory commission meeting, except the first advisory commission
meeting of odd-numbered years, to fill such vacancy. The chair shall
call for nominations from the floor. After all nominations are made,
the chair will close the nominations and ask for discussion. Upon
the close of discussion, the chair will ask for a vote. If there is
a simple majority for one person, that person is elected. If there
is not a majority for any one person, an election runoff shall immediately
be held between the two people receiving the highest number of votes.
(g) The chair shall perform such duties as are properly
required of him or her by the advisory commission. The chair shall
preside at all meetings, shall have general supervision of the affairs
of the advisory commission, and shall have authority to interpret
and carry out all decisions of the advisory commission.
(h) The vice-chair shall perform such duties as the
advisory commission or the chair may direct. The vice-chair shall
preside over advisory commission meetings and carry out the chair's
duties if the chair is absent or unavailable.
(i) The secretary shall certify the minutes of all
meetings of the advisory commission after the advisory commission
has approved them and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed
by the advisory commission or the chair. The secretary shall preside
over commission meetings and carry out the chair and the vice-chair's
duties if the chair and the vice-chair are absent or unavailable.
(j) The executive committee consists of the chair,
vice-chair, secretary, and immediate past chair of the THGAAC if that
person is still a member of the advisory commission, as well as other
members of the advisory commission appointed by the chair, not to
exceed four members total. The committee may act on behalf of the
advisory commission with its advance approval. In the absence of advance
approval by the advisory commission, any action of the executive committee
may be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the advisory commission
for ratification.
(k) The chair may appoint such additional committees
from the members of the THGAAC as the chair deems necessary, consistent
with the duties of the THGAAC as defined in Government Code §448.101.
The chair serves as a non-voting ex officio member on each committee
except the nominating committee.
(l) THC shall provide to THGAAC such staff positions
as are authorized and funded by the Texas legislature to carry out
THGAAC duties. Staff will be provided with office space and with necessary
and appropriate equipment and vehicles to carry out their assignments.
Staff must meet all standards and requirements for employment by THC
and shall perform duties in accordance with direction received from
THGAAC. If THGAAC members are dissatisfied with staff performance,
they shall report this to the executive director of THC, and the two
entities shall work together to attempt to resolve performance issues.
Any final decision on hiring, assigning, placing under probation,
or terminating an employee is solely the responsibility of the executive
director of THC.
(m) Staff job classifications, salaries, benefits,
assigned equipment, vehicles, and staff policies and procedures shall
be consistent with those used by THC for its internal affairs and
shall be subject to approval by the executive director of THC.
(n) The executive director of THGAAC shall report directly
to the executive director of THC, who shall be responsible for developing
THGAAC's executive director's workplan and for overseeing and rating
performance under that plan. In developing said workplan and any performance
reviews thereunder, the executive director of THC shall consult with
the chairs of THC and THGAAC.
(o) THC may choose to assign one or more THC commissioners
or THC staff members as liaisons to THGAAC. Such THC liaisons shall
be permitted to attend public portions of any and all meetings of
the THGAAC.
(p) The THGAAC's chair or other member or staff of
the advisory commission will present a formal report on recent THGAAC
activities at each THC quarterly meeting.
(q) THC shall provide administrative services to THGAAC
including budgeting, purchasing, accounting, human resources, information
technology, fleet management, and office maintenance. THC shall be
reimbursed for costs associated with its performance of the duties
described herein, and will withdraw such amounts from the legislative
appropriation supporting THGAAC.
(r) THGAAC commissioners shall be entitled to reimbursement
of reasonable expenses incurred in attending publicly-posted meetings
of the THGAAC and its committees. In addition, commissioners shall
be entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred while transacting
advisory commission business if, in advance of such travel, the commissioner
obtains written approval for reimbursement from the commission chair.
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