Amend HB 2644 by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering existing SECTIONS accordingly: SECTION ____. Section 455.159, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (e) A massage school or massage therapy instructor may not, unless the school or instructor has permission from the department, require a student to complete a number of internship hours that is greater than a number equal to 20 percent of the classroom hours required for a license under Section 455.156. SECTION ____. Chapter 455, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subchapter I to read as follows:SUBCHAPTER I. MASSAGE THERAPY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Sec. 455.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "committee" means the Massage Therapy Advisory Committee. Sec. 455.402. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP. (a) The committee consists of nine members, appointed by the commissioner of state health services, who are license holders under this chapter. (b) Appointments to the committee shall reflect the historical and cultural diversity of the inhabitants of this state. (c) Appointments to the committee shall be made without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the appointee. Sec. 455.403. DUTIES. (a) The committee: (1) shall advise the department in administering this chapter; (2) may review and comment on proposed rules and amendments to rules adopted under this chapter; and (3) may study or investigate issues relevant to the committee's duties under this chapter. (b) The committee must take into consideration the diversity of practice types within the profession in each action taken by the committee. Sec. 455.404. MEMBERSHIP RESTRICTIONS. (a) In this section, "Texas trade association" means a cooperative and voluntarily joined statewide association of business or professional competitors in this state designed to assist its members and its industry or profession in dealing with mutual business or professional problems and in promoting their common interests. (b) A person may not be a committee member if: (1) the person is an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a Texas trade association in the field of massage therapy; or (2) the person's spouse is an officer, manager, or paid consultant of a Texas trade association in the field of massage therapy. (c) A person may not be a committee member if the person is required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305, Government Code, because of the person's activities for compensation on behalf of a profession related to the operation of the department. Sec. 455.405. TERMS. Members of the committee serve staggered six-year terms. The terms of three members expire on February 1 of each odd-numbered year. Sec. 455.406. GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL. (a) It is a ground for removal from the committee that a member: (1) does not have at the time of the member's appointment to the committee the qualifications required by Section 455.402; (2) does not maintain during service on the committee the qualifications required by Section 455.402; (3) is ineligible for membership under Section 455.404; (4) cannot, because of illness or disability, discharge the member's duties for a substantial part of the member's term; or (5) is absent from more than half of the regularly scheduled committee meetings that the member is eligible to attend during a calendar year without an excuse approved by a majority vote of the committee. (b) The validity of an action of the committee is not affected by the fact that it is taken when a ground for removal of a member of the committee exists. (c) If a member of the committee has knowledge that a potential ground for removal of another member exists, the member shall notify the presiding officer of the committee of the potential ground. The presiding officer shall then notify the commissioner of state health services that a potential ground for removal exists. If the potential ground for removal involves the presiding officer, the member shall notify the commissioner of state health services that a potential ground for removal exists. Sec. 455.407. REIMBURSEMENT. A member is entitled to reimbursement for expenses as provided by the General Appropriations Act. Sec. 455.408. PRESIDING OFFICER. (a) Not later than the 30th day after the date the commissioner of state health services appoints new committee members, the commissioner of state health services shall designate a presiding officer. The presiding officer serves at the pleasure of the commissioner of state health services. (b) The committee may appoint additional officers as necessary. Sec. 455.409. MEETINGS. The committee shall meet subject to the call of the commissioner of state health services. Sec. 455.410. TRAINING. (a) A person who is appointed to and qualifies for office as a member of the committee may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a member in attendance at a meeting of the committee until the person completes a training program that complies with this section. (b) The training program must provide the person with information regarding: (1) this chapter and the programs, functions, rules, and budget applicable to this chapter; (2) the results of the most recent formal audit of the department; (3) the requirements of laws relating to open meetings, public information, administrative procedure, and conflicts of interest; and (4) any applicable ethics policies adopted by the executive commissioner or the Texas Ethics Commission. (c) A person appointed to the committee is entitled to reimbursement, as provided by the General Appropriations Act, for the travel expenses incurred in attending the training program regardless of whether the attendance at the program occurs before or after the person qualifies for office. SECTION ____. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the commissioner of state health services shall appoint the initial members of the advisory committee under Subchapter I, Chapter 455, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.