| (a) Statutory authority. Texas Food System Security
and Resiliency Planning Council (Council) is established pursuant
to Texas Agriculture Code, §23.002.
(b) Definitions. In additional to the general definitions
contained within Title 4, Part 1, Chapter 1, §1.1, the following
words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following
meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) "Council" means the Texas food system security
and resiliency planning council; and
(2) "Office" means the food and nutrition division
or other division within the department responsible for food assistance
programs, established pursuant to Texas Agriculture Code, §23.001(2).
(c) Purpose. The Council shall provide guidance to
the Department in the administration of Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter
23 and the development of a state food system security plan.
(d) Composition. The Council is composed of members
in accordance with Texas Agriculture Code, §23.002(a).
(e) A person appointed to the Council must have experience
in an industry or economic sector involving food production or food
sales or in a related industry or economic sector.
(f) Terms of Service for Council Membership.
(1) Each Council member serves at the pleasure of the
appointing official.
(2) Any vacancy occurring on the Council shall be filled
by the appropriate appointing official as soon as practicable.
(3) Appointments to the Council shall be made without
regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national
origin of the appointees.
(g) Presiding officers, including a chair and vice-chair,
shall be designated in accordance with Texas Agriculture Code, Section
23.002.
(h) Meetings.
(1) Meetings shall be held at regular intervals, as
directed by Texas Agriculture Code, Section 23.002
(2) A simple majority of the voting members of the
Council shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business.
(3) The Council may only meet with a quorum present.
(i) Procedures.
(1) Any action taken by the Council must be approved
by a majority vote of the members present once a quorum is established.
(2) Each voting member shall have one vote.
(3) The Council shall make decisions in the discharge
of its duties without discrimination based on any person's race, creed,
gender, religion, national origin, age, physical condition, or economic
status.
(4) Minutes of each Council meeting shall be taken
by department staff.
(j) Conduct By Members.
(1) Members of the Council shall not be entitled to
compensation or reimbursement from the Department or the Council for
expenses incurred in performing Council duties unless otherwise required
under Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter 23.
(2) The Commissioner, the department, and the Council
shall not be bound in any way by any statement or action on the part
of any Council member except when a statement or action is specifically
authorized by the Commissioner, department, or Council.
(3) The Council and its members may not participate
in an official capacity in legislative activities in the name of the
department or the Council except with approval of the department.
Council members are not prohibited from representing themselves or
other entities in the legislative process.
(4) A Council member should not accept or solicit any
benefit that might reasonably tend to influence the member in the
discharge of the member's duties.
(5) A Council member should not disclose confidential
information acquired through his or her Council membership.
(6) A Council member should not knowingly solicit,
accept, or agree to accept any benefit for having exercised the member's
powers or duties in favor of another person.
(7) A Council member who has a personal or private
interest in a matter pending before the Council shall publicly disclose
the fact in a Council meeting and may not vote or otherwise participate
in the matter. The phrase "personal or private interest" means the
Council member has a direct pecuniary interest in the matter but does
not include the Council 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.
(8) A person may not serve as a member of Council if
the person is required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305,
Government Code because of the person's activities for compensation
on a matter related to the Council.
(k) Council members must complete required Open Meetings
Training in accordance with Texas Government Code, Chapter 551.
(l) Staff. Staff support for the Council shall be provided
by the department.
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