(a) General Powers and Responsibilities. The commission is a seven-member citizen board appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The agency is within the executive branch, but functions independently within its statutory authority to serve the long-term public interest.
(b) Powers and Responsibilities of the Commission. The commission is responsible for establishing the policy framework through which the Texas State Library carries out its statutory responsibilities. The commission governs the library through the director and librarian. The staff of the library receive direction from the commission through the director and librarian. Specifically, the commission:
  (1) adopts administrative rules that guide the staff in administering library programs;
  (2) approves strategic and operating plans and requests for appropriations;
  (3) approves all contracts as specified in §2.77 of this subchapter (relating to Contract Approval Authority and Responsibilities);
  (4) approves all competitive grants, and all other grants of $100,000 or more, made by the library;
  (5) acknowledges acceptance of gifts, grants, or donations of $500 or more that are in accord with the mission and purposes of the library;
  (6) oversees operations of the library for integrity, effectiveness, and efficiency;
  (7) acts as a final board of appeals for staff decisions or advisory board recommendations on grants, accreditation of libraries, certification of librarians, or other issues of concern to the public;
  (8) selects the director and librarian and approves the selection of the assistant state librarian; and
  (9) conducts a periodic performance review of the director and librarian.
(c) Powers and Responsibilities of the Director and Librarian. The director and librarian is responsible for the effective and efficient administration of the policies established by the commission. Specifically, the director and librarian:
  (1) selects, organizes, and directs the staff of the library;
  (2) establishes the operating budget for the library and allocates funds among strategies, programs, and projects within the limits of statutory authority and as set forth in the General Appropriations Acts of the legislature;
  (3) approves expenditures of funds in accordance with law;
  (4) represents the commission and reports on behalf of the commission to the governor, the legislature, the public, or other organized groups as required;
  (5) reports in a timely manner all relevant information first to the chair and subsequently to all members of the commission, endeavoring to report to members of the commission in such a manner that the members are equally well informed on matters that concern the commission; and
  (6) delegates his/her responsibilities to the assistant state librarian or other agency staff as appropriate.

Source Note: The provisions of this §2.2 adopted to be effective July 17, 1997, 22 TexReg 6431; amended to be effective May 12, 2004, 29 TexReg 4463; amended to be effective June 25, 2023, 48 TexReg 3223; amended to be effective March 12, 2024, 49 TexReg 1458