Sec. 490I.0110.  BOARD OF ADVISORS.  (a)  In this section:
(1)  "Rural area" means a county with a population of less than 100,000 that is not adjacent to a county with a population of more than 350,000.
(2)  "Urban area" means a county with a population of more than one million.
(b)  The broadband development office board of advisors is composed of 10 members, appointed as follows:
(1)  two members appointed by the governor, including:
(A)  one member to represent the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office; and
(B)  one member of the public with experience in telecommunications or broadband service;
(2)  three members appointed by the lieutenant governor, including:
(A)  one member who resides in an urban area;
(B)  one member to represent the public primary and secondary education community; and
(C)  one member who resides in a county that:
(i)  is adjacent to an international border;
(ii)  is located not more than 150 miles from the Gulf of Mexico; and
(iii)  has a population of more than 60,000;
(3)  three members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, including:
(A)  one member who resides in a rural area;
(B)  one member to represent the health and telemedicine industry; and
(C)  one member to represent the public higher education community;
(4)  the comptroller or the comptroller's designee; and
(5)  one nonvoting member appointed by the broadband development office to represent the office.
(c)  The comptroller or the comptroller's designee serves as the presiding officer of the board of advisors.
(d)  Members of the board of advisors serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority for staggered two-year terms, with the terms of the members described by Subsections (b)(1) and (2) expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year and the terms of the members described by Subsections (b)(3), (4), and (5) expiring February 1 of each even-numbered year.  A member may serve more than one term.
(e)  Not later than the 30th day after the date a member's term expires, the appropriate appointing authority shall appoint a replacement in the same manner as the original appointment.
(f)  If a vacancy occurs on the board of advisors, the appropriate appointing authority shall appoint a successor in the same manner as the original appointment to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.  The appropriate appointing authority shall appoint the successor not later than the 30th day after the date the vacancy occurs.
(g)  The board of advisors shall provide guidance to the broadband development office regarding the expansion, adoption, affordability, and use of broadband service and the programs administered by the office.
(h)  The board of advisors shall meet at least semiannually with representatives from the broadband development office for the purpose of advising the work of the office in implementing the provisions of this chapter.
(i)  A person who is professionally affiliated with a person serving as a member of the board of advisors is not eligible for funding from the broadband development program under Section 490I.0106 if the member is involved in decisions regarding the award of grants, loans, or other financial incentives under that section.
(j)  The board of advisors may consult with stakeholders with technical expertise in the area of broadband and telecommunication technology.
(k)  Meetings of the board of advisors are subject to Chapter 551.
Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 625 (H.B. 5), Sec. 5, eff. June 15, 2021.
Amended by: 
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 352 (S.B. 1238), Sec. 6, eff. June 2, 2023.