(a) Each RFPG and any committee, subcommittee, or subgroup of an RFPG are subject to Chapters 551 and 552, Government Code.
(b) Each RFPG shall create and maintain a website that they will use to post public notices of all its full RFPG, subgroup, and subcommittee meetings and make available meeting agendas and related meeting materials for the public, in accordance with the items listed below in subsection (h)(1) - (3) of this section.
(c) Each RFPG shall provide a means by which it will accept written public comments prior to and after meetings. The RFPGs must also allow oral public comments during RFPG meetings.
(d) Confidential materials that fall under protection in accordance with the Homeland Security Act, may not be made available to the general public.
(e) Each RFPG shall solicit interested parties from the public and maintain a list of emails of persons or entities who request to be notified electronically of RFPG activities.
(f) At a minimum, notices of all meetings, meeting materials, and meeting agendas shall be sent electronically, in accordance with the timelines provided in subsection (h)(1) - (3) of this section to all voting and non-voting RFPG members; and any person or entity who has requested notice of RFPG activities.
(g) At a minimum, all notices must be posted to the RFPG website and in the Texas Register on the Secretary of State website and must include:
(1) the date, time, and location of the meeting;
(2) a summary of the proposed action(s) to be taken;
(3) the name, telephone number, email address, and physical address of a contact person to whom questions or requests for additional information may be submitted; and
(4) a statement of how and when comments will be received from the members and public.
(h) In addition to subsections (a) - (g) of this section, and the notice requirements of Chapter 551, Government Code, the following requirements apply to any RFPG meetings and any RFPG committee, subcommittee, or subgroup meetings:
(1) at a minimum, notice must be provided at least seven days prior to the meeting, and meeting materials must be made available online at least three days prior to and seven days following the meeting when the planning group will take the following actions:
(2) at a minimum, notice must be provided at least seven days prior to the meeting, written comments must be accepted for seven days prior to the meeting and considered by the RFPG members prior to taking the associated action, and meeting materials must be made available online for a minimum of three days prior to and 14 days following the meeting, when the planning group will take the following actions:
(3) for meetings at which the planning group will take public comment related to the RFPG's draft RFP per TWC 16.062(f) - (g), the following additional public notice provisions must be met:
(i) All notice periods given are based on calendar days.
(j) RFPGs shall also provide additional public notice, if any, in accordance with their decision under §361.11(d)(6) of this title (relating to Designations and Governance of Flood Planning Regions), including provision of print notices, if applicable.
(k) Each RFPG shall include a statement in their draft and final adopted regional flood plans regarding the RFPG's conformance with this section.
Source Note: The provisions of this §361.21 adopted to be effective June 10, 2020, 45 TexReg 3792; amended to be effective November 1, 2023, 48 TexReg 6360