Sec. 51.409.  DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND FINANCES.  (a)  A member of the board, the commissioner, an employee of the board, or a person who provides services to the board that relate to the management or investment of the funds designated under Section 51.401 who has a business, commercial, or other relationship that could reasonably be expected to diminish the person's independence of judgment in the performance of the person's responsibilities relating to the management or investment of the funds shall disclose the relationship in writing to the board.
(b)  The board or the board's designee shall, in the ethics policy adopted under Section 51.408, define the kinds of relationships that may create a possible conflict of interest.
(c)  A person who is required to file a disclosure statement under Subsection (a) shall refrain from giving advice or making decisions about matters affected by the conflict of interest unless the board, after consultation with the general counsel of the board, expressly waives this prohibition.  The board shall maintain a written record of each waiver and the reasons for it.  The board may delegate the authority to waive prohibitions under this subsection to one or more designated employees of the land office on a vote of a majority of the members of the board at an open meeting called and held in compliance with Chapter 551, Government Code.  The board shall have any order delegating authority to waive prohibitions under this section entered into the minutes of the meeting.  The board may adopt criteria for designated employees to use to determine the kinds of relationships that do not constitute a material conflict of interest for purposes of this subsection.
(d)  Each employee of the board who exercises significant decision-making or fiduciary authority, as determined by the board, shall file financial disclosure statements with a person designated by the board.  The content of a financial disclosure statement must comply substantially with the requirements of Subchapter B, Chapter 572, Government Code.  A statement must be filed not later than the 30th day after the date a person is employed in a significant decision-making or fiduciary position and annually after employment not later than April 30.  The filing deadline may be postponed by the board for not more than 60 days on written request or for an additional period for good cause, as determined by the chairman of the board.  The board shall maintain a financial disclosure statement for at least five years after the date of its filing.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1098 (H.B. 2217), Sec. 9, eff. June 18, 2005.