Sec. 161.023. 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 department and the council;

(2) the programs operated by the department;

(3) the role and functions of the department and the council, including detailed information regarding:

(A) the division of authority and of responsibility between the commissioner and the executive commissioner; and

(B) the advisory responsibilities of the council;

(4) the rules of the executive commissioner applicable to the department, with an emphasis on the rules that relate to disciplinary and investigatory authority;

(5) the current budget for the department;

(6) the results of the most recent formal audit of the department;

(7) the requirements of:

(A) the open meetings law, Chapter 551, Government Code;

(B) the public information law, Chapter 552, Government Code;

(C) the administrative procedure law, Chapter 2001, Government Code; and

(D) other laws relating to public officials, including conflict-of-interest laws; and

(8) any applicable ethics policies adopted by the executive commissioner or the Texas Ethics Commission.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 198, Sec. 1.13A.