(a) The commission shall select a presiding officer and a vice-presiding officer.     
      (b) Commission officers are elected annually by majority vote of the commission. The election shall take place at the first commission meeting held after June 1 of each year. Each officer shall serve until his or her successor is selected.     
      (c) The presiding officer and the vice-presiding officer shall be elected from different political party caucus lists.     
      (d) The presiding officer may be re-elected; however, if a new presiding officer is elected it should be from a different political party caucus list than the former presiding officer.     
      (e) The presiding officer shall preside at all meetings of the commission. While presiding, the presiding officer shall direct the order of the meeting, appoint committees and persons to chair committees, recognize persons to be heard at hearings, set reasonable and necessary time limits for speakers, and take other actions to clarify issues and preserve order. When the presiding officer is absent, the vice-presiding officer shall perform all duties of the presiding officer.     
      (f) The presiding officer may perform the following actions of the commission:      
        (1) Sign previously approved subpoenas and orders;       
        (2) Schedule hearings and meetings;       
        (3) Timely respond to litigation matters on behalf of the commission when action is required before the next scheduled meeting and is within the scope of the authorization granted by the commission; and       
        (4) Respond to matters on behalf of the commission when action is required and is within the scope of the authorization granted by the commission.       
      (g) The presiding officer may appoint a commissioner as chair pro tem to preside over a hearing held by the commission.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §6.21 adopted to be effective December 31, 1993, 18 TexReg 9708; amended to be effective June 12, 2017, 42 TexReg 3001