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Amend Amendment No. 18 by Wohlgemuth to CSHB 2292 by adding
the following appropriately numbered items to the amendment:
(__) On page 14, line 1, strike "Subchapter K" and substitute
"Subchapters K, L, and M".
(__) On page 17, between lines 18 and 19, insert the
following:
SUBCHAPTER L. COUNCIL FOR THE BLIND, DEAF, AND HARD OF HEARING
Sec. 531.421. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "council"
means the Council for the Blind, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing.
Sec. 531.422. COUNCIL FOR THE BLIND, DEAF, AND HARD OF
HEARING. (a) The Council for the Blind, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing
is created to advise the commissioner and the offices for the blind
and for the deaf and hard of hearing regarding programs and services
for those populations.
(b) The council is composed of nine members of the public
appointed by the governor. To be eligible for appointment to the
council, a person must have demonstrated an interest in and
knowledge of problems and available services for persons who are
blind, deaf, or hard of hearing.
(c) Chapter 551 applies to the council.
(d) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the council.
Sec. 531.423. APPOINTMENTS. (a) Appointments to the
council shall be made without regard to the race, color,
disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the
appointees.
(b) Appointments to the council shall be made so that each
geographic area of the state is represented on the council.
Sec. 531.424. TRAINING PROGRAM FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. (a) A
person who is appointed as a member of the council may not vote,
deliberate, or be counted as a member in attendance at a meeting of
the council until the person completes a training program that
complies with this section.
(b) The training program must provide the person with
information regarding:
(1) the legislation that created the commission and
the council;
(2) the programs operated by the commission;
(3) the role and functions of the commission and the
council, including detailed information regarding the advisory
responsibilities of the council;
(4) the rules of the commissioner applicable to the
commission, with an emphasis on the rules that relate to
disciplinary and investigatory authority;
(5) the current budget for the commission;
(6) the results of the most recent formal audit of the
commission;
(7) the requirements of:
(A) the open meetings law, Chapter 551;
(B) the public information law, Chapter 552;
(C) the administrative procedure law, Chapter
2001; and
(D) other laws relating to public officials,
including conflict-of-interest laws; and
(8) any applicable ethics policies adopted by the
commissioner or the Texas Ethics Commission.
Sec. 531.425. TERMS. (a) Council members serve for
staggered six-year terms with the terms of three members expiring
February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
(b) A member of the council may not serve more than two
consecutive full terms as a council member.
Sec. 531.426. VACANCY. The governor by appointment shall
fill the unexpired term of a vacancy on the council.
Sec. 531.427. PRESIDING OFFICER; OTHER OFFICERS; MEETINGS.
(a) The governor shall designate a member of the council as the
presiding officer to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the
governor.
(b) The members of the council shall elect any other
necessary officers.
(c) The council shall meet quarterly and at other times at
the call of the presiding officer. The council may hold meetings in
different areas of the state.
Sec. 531.428. REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. A council member
may not receive compensation for service as a member of the council
but is entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by
the member while conducting the business of the council as provided
by the General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 531.429. PUBLIC INTEREST INFORMATION AND COMPLAINTS.
(a) The commissioner, with the advice of the council, shall prepare
information of public interest describing the functions of the
commission and the procedures by which complaints are filed with
and resolved by the commission. The commission shall make the
information available to the public and appropriate state
governmental entities.
(b) The commissioner by rule shall establish methods by
which consumers and service recipients are notified of the name,
mailing address, and telephone number of the commission for
directing complaints to the commission.
Sec. 531.430. PUBLIC ACCESS AND TESTIMONY. The
commissioner shall develop and implement policies that provide the
public with a reasonable opportunity to appear before the council
or commissioner and to speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of
the commission.
Sec. 531.431. POLICYMAKING AND MANAGEMENT
RESPONSIBILITIES. The commissioner, with the advice of the
council, shall develop and the commission shall implement policies
that clearly delineate the policymaking responsibilities of the
commissioner from the management responsibilities of the
commission and the staff of the commission.
SUBCHAPTER M. REHABILITATION COUNCIL
Sec. 531.441. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "council"
means the Rehabilitation Council.
Sec. 531.442. REHABILITATION COUNCIL. (a) The
Rehabilitation Council is created to advise the commissioner and
the office of rehabilitation services regarding programs and
services for persons with disabilities other than developmental
delay and mental retardation.
(b) The council is composed of nine members of the public
appointed by the governor. To be eligible for appointment to the
council, a person must have demonstrated an interest in and
knowledge of problems and available services related to the child
health plan program, the financial assistance program under Chapter
31, Human Resources Code, the medical assistance program under
Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, or the nutritional assistance
programs under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code.
(c) Chapter 551 applies to the council.
(d) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the council.
Sec. 531.443. APPOINTMENTS. (a) Appointments to the council
shall be made without regard to the race, color, disability, sex,
religion, age, or national origin of the appointees.
(b) Appointments to the council shall be made so that each
geographic area of the state is represented on the council.
Sec. 531.444. TRAINING PROGRAM FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. (a) A
person who is appointed as a member of the council may not vote,
deliberate, or be counted as a member in attendance at a meeting of
the council until the person completes a training program that
complies with this section.
(b) The training program must provide the person with
information regarding:
(1) the legislation that created the commission and the
council;
(2) the programs operated by the commission;
(3) the role and functions of the commission and the
council, including detailed information regarding the advisory
responsibilities of the council;
(4) the rules of the commissioner applicable to the
commission, with an emphasis on the rules that relate to
disciplinary and investigatory authority;
(5) the current budget for the commission;
(6) the results of the most recent formal audit of the
commission;
(7) the requirements of:
(A) the open meetings law, Chapter 551;
(B) the public information law, Chapter 552;
(C) the administrative procedure law, Chapter
2001; and
(D) other laws relating to public officials,
including conflict-of-interest laws; and
(8) any applicable ethics policies adopted by the
commissioner or the Texas Ethics Commission.
Sec. 531.445. TERMS. (a) Council members serve for
staggered six-year terms with the terms of three members expiring
February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
(b) A member of the council may not serve more than two
consecutive full terms as a council member.
Sec. 531.446. VACANCY. The governor by appointment shall
fill the unexpired term of a vacancy on the council.
Sec. 531.447. PRESIDING OFFICER; OTHER OFFICERS; MEETINGS.
(a) The governor shall designate a member of the council as
the presiding officer to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of
the governor.
(b) The members of the council shall elect any other
necessary officers.
(c) The council shall meet quarterly and at other times at the
call of the presiding officer. The council may hold meetings in
different areas of the state.
Sec. 531.448. REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. A council member
may not receive compensation for service as a member of the council
but is entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by
the member while conducting the business of the council as provided
by the General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 531.449. PUBLIC INTEREST INFORMATION AND COMPLAINTS.
(a) The commissioner, with the advice of the council, shall prepare
information of public interest describing the functions of the
commission and the procedures by which complaints are filed with
and resolved by the commission. The commission shall make the
information available to the public and appropriate state
governmental entities.
(b) The commissioner by rule shall establish methods by which
consumers and service recipients are notified of the name, mailing
address, and telephone number of the commission for directing
complaints to the commission.
Sec. 531.450. PUBLIC ACCESS AND TESTIMONY. The commissioner
shall develop and implement policies that provide the public with a
reasonable opportunity to appear before the council or commissioner
and to speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of the commission.
Sec. 531.451. POLICYMAKING AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.
The commissioner, with the advice of the council, shall develop and
the commission shall implement policies that clearly delineate the
policymaking responsibilities of the commissioner from the
management responsibilities of the commission and the staff of the
commission.