(a) Standing and Permanent Committees. The following are standing and permanent committees of the Board, established pursuant to Occupations Code, Chapter 801. The responsibilities and authority of these committees include those duties and powers set forth below and any other responsibilities delegated by the Board.
  (1) Executive Committee.
    (A) Membership. The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Board president, vice president, and secretary. The Board president shall annually appoint members of the Board to serve as the Board vice president and secretary. The Board president shall serve as the chair of the Executive Committee.
    (B) Responsibilities and Authority. The Executive Committee shall have the responsibility and authority to:
      (i) study and make recommendations to the Board regarding future Board goals and objectives and the establishment of priorities;
      (ii) study and make recommendations to the Board regarding methods to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the administration of the Board;
      (iii) review and evaluate Board rules regarding the Board's general administrative duties, or any Board function the committee determines needs consideration, study and recommend changes and additions to such rules;
      (iv) assist in the preparation and presentation of information concerning the Board to the Legislature and other state officials;
      (v) take action on matters of urgency that arise between Board meetings;
      (vi) conduct temporary license suspension proceedings pursuant to Occupations Code §801.409 and §575.35 of this title;
      (vii) study and make recommendations to the Board regarding the division of responsibilities between the Board and Board staff pursuant to Occupations Code §801.104;
      (viii) conduct an annual performance evaluation of the Executive Director, report findings and make employment recommendations to the Board; and
      (ix) in the event of a vacancy in the Executive Director position, oversee the hiring process, conduct interviews, and make employment recommendations to the Board.
  (2) Enforcement Committee.
    (A) Membership. The Enforcement Committee shall be comprised of two veterinary Board members and the Board's three public members. The Board president shall annually appoint members of the Board to serve on the Enforcement Committee. The Board president shall appoint the chair of the Enforcement Committee.
    (B) Responsibilities and Authority. The Enforcement Committee shall have the responsibility and authority to:
      (i) oversee the Board's enforcement and disciplinary process;
      (ii) study and make recommendations to the Board regarding future enforcement goals and objectives and the establishment of enforcement priorities;
      (iii) study and make recommendations to the Board regarding methods to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the administration of the Board's enforcement and disciplinary process;
      (iv) review and evaluate Board rules regarding the enforcement and disciplinary process, study and recommend changes and additions to such rules;
      (v) conduct informal conferences pursuant to Occupations Code §801.408 and §575.29 of this title;
      (vi) conduct proceedings related to requests for reinstatement of a license pursuant to §575.22 of this title; and
      (vii) conduct proceedings related to requests for modification and termination of agreed orders and disciplinary orders pursuant to §575.38 of this title.
  (3) Licensing Committee.
    (A) Membership. The Licensing Committee shall be comprised of one veterinary Board member, the Board's LVT member, and one public Board member. The Board president shall annually appoint members of the Board to serve on the Licensing Committee. The Board president shall appoint the chair of the Licensing Committee.
    (B) Responsibilities and Authority. The Licensing Committee shall have the responsibility and authority to:
      (i) oversee the Board's licensing process;
      (ii) study and make recommendations to the Board regarding future licensing goals and objectives and the establishment of licensing priorities;
      (iii) study and make recommendations to the Board regarding methods to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the administration of the Board's licensing process;
      (iv) review and evaluate Board rules regarding the licensing process, study and recommend changes and additions to such rules;
      (v) in coordination with the Finance Committee, review and evaluate Board rules regarding the Board's fee schedule, study and recommend changes and additions to such rules;
      (vi) approve acceptable methods of earning continuing education hours pursuant to §573.65 of this title;
      (vii) conduct proceedings relating to licensure eligibility pursuant to §575.20 of this title;
      (viii) review and evaluate examinations administered by the Board and recommend changes to examination questions and administration; and
      (ix) maintain communication with Texas veterinary schools, Veterinary Technician Programs, and EDP certifications programs.
  (4) Finance Committee.
    (A) Membership. The Finance Committee shall be comprised of three Board members, with at least one veterinary Board member and one non-veterinary Board member. The Board president shall annually appoint members of the Board to serve on the Finance Committee. The Board president shall appoint the chair of the Finance Committee.
    (B) Responsibilities and Authority. The Finance Committee shall have the responsibility and authority to:
      (i) oversee the Board's budget and finances;
      (ii) study and make recommendations to the Board regarding future budget and finance goals and objectives and the establishment of budget and finance priorities;
      (iii) study and make recommendations to the Board regarding methods to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the administration of the Board's budget and finances;
      (iv) review staff reports regarding the Board's budget and finances;
      (v) in coordination with the Licensing Committee, review and evaluate Board rules regarding the Board's fee schedule, study and recommend changes and additions to such rules; and
      (vi) assist in the preparation and presentation of information concerning the Board's budget and finances to the Legislature and other state officials.
(b) Advisory Committees. The following are advisory committees of the Board, established pursuant to Chapter 801, Occupations Code. The responsibilities and authority of these committees include those set forth below and any other responsibilities and authority provided by law or delegated by the Board.
  (1) Equine Dental Provider Advisory Committee.
    (A) Membership. The Equine Dental Provider (EDP) Advisory Committee shall be comprised of three members. The Board president shall make appointments pursuant to Occupations Code §801.552 and §801.553. The Board president shall biennially designate a presiding officer of the EDP Advisory Committee pursuant to Occupations Code §801.555.
    (B) Responsibilities and Authority. The EDP Advisory Committee shall have the responsibilities and authority provided by law, including the responsibility and authority to:
      (i) advise and assist the Board in adopting rules related to licensed equine dental providers; and
      (ii) consult with the Board regarding matters relating to a disciplinary action that involves a licensed equine dental provider.
  (2) Licensed Veterinary Technician Advisory Committee.
    (A) Membership. The Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) Advisory Committee shall be comprised of six members, with at least two licensed veterinary technician members, one veterinarian member, and one public member. The Board president shall annually appoint members to the committee. The Board may amend committee membership as needed. The LVT Advisory Committee shall select a chair from among its members.
    (B) Responsibilities and Authority. The LVT Advisory Committee shall provide independent expertise on Board functions and policies concerning LVTs, but may not be involved in setting Board policy. The LVT Advisory Committee shall have the responsibility and authority to:
      (i) advise and assist the Board in adopting rules related to licensed veterinary technicians;
      (ii) consult with the Board regarding matters relating to a disciplinary action that involves a licensed veterinary technician;
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(iii) solicit public input on issues addressed by the committee through public testimony, facsimile, telephone, mail, electronic mail, online message board, or any other reasonable means; and
      (iv) through the chair of the committee or by written statement, report the findings and recommendations of the committee to the Board at a Board meeting held pursuant to Chapter 551, Government Code.
    (C) Meetings. Meetings of the LVT Advisory Committee shall be held pursuant to Chapter 551, Government Code. A meeting may be held by telephone conference call.
    (D) Annual Evaluation. The Board shall annually evaluate the committee's work and usefulness, and the costs related to the committee's existence.
(c) Ad Hoc Committees
  (1) The Board may establish ad hoc committees of Board members to address a specific subject or accomplish a specific task. At the time the Board establishes an ad hoc committee, the Board must clearly designate the subject to be addressed or the task to be accomplished.
  (2) Each ad hoc committee established by the Board shall expire upon the completion of the specific task for which the ad hoc committee was established, or upon the first anniversary of the date the committee was established, whichever occurs earlier. The Board may vote to continue an ad hoc committee beyond its expiration date if necessary to address the specific subject or accomplish the specific task for which it was established.
  (3) The Board president shall appoint members of the Board to serve on each ad hoc committee and shall designate a chair for each ad hoc committee. Each ad hoc committee established by the Board shall have at least one veterinary Board member and one non-veterinary Board member.

Source Note: The provisions of this §577.5 adopted to be effective November 12, 2017, 42 TexReg 6185; amended to be effective September 24, 2018, 43 TexReg 6286