The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.     
       (1) Commission--The Texas Transportation Commission.      
       (2) Department--The Texas Department of Transportation.      
       (3) Executive director--The executive director of the department or the executive director's designee not below the level of district engineer, division director, or special office director.      
       (4) Gift or donation--A contribution of anything of value given to the department, but not including:                (A) reimbursement for an employee's travel expenses that is received from a governmental entity that provides funding to the  department;                 (B) reimbursement for an employee's travel expenses that is received from an organization of which the department is a member, including a federal pooled fund project; and                 (C) participation in the Adopt-a-Highway, Adopt-a-Highway for Landscaping, Adopt-a-Freeway, and Adopt-an-Airport programs.        
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §1.501 adopted to be effective April 1, 1997, 22 TexReg 2625; amended to be effective September 23, 1997, 22 TexReg 9259; amended to be effective December 9, 2004, 29 TexReg 11370