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.