Sec. 802.065.  ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  (a)  The commission shall establish an advisory committee to advise the commission and make recommendations on matters related to the administration and enforcement of this chapter, including licensing fees and standards adopted under Subchapter E.
(b)  The advisory committee consists of nine members appointed by the presiding officer of the commission with the approval of the commission as follows:
(1)  two members who are licensed breeders;
(2)  two members who are veterinarians;
(3)  two members who represent animal welfare organizations each of which has an office based in this state;
(4)  two members who represent the public; and
(5)  one member who is an animal control officer as defined in Section 829.001, Health and Safety Code.
(c)  Members of the advisory committee serve staggered four-year terms.  The terms of four or five members expire on February 1 of each odd-numbered year.  If a vacancy occurs during a member's term, the presiding officer of the commission, with the approval of the commission, shall appoint a replacement member to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(d)  The presiding officer of the commission shall designate one member of the advisory committee to serve as presiding officer of the advisory committee for a two-year term.  A member may serve more than one term as presiding officer.
(e)  Repealed by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 663 (H.B. 1560), Sec. 1.25(20), eff. September 1, 2021.
(f)  Except for the members described by Subsection (b)(1), a person may not be a member of the advisory committee if the person or a member of the person's household:
(1)  is required to be licensed under this chapter;
(2)  is an officer, employee, or paid consultant of an entity required to be licensed under this chapter;
(3)  owns or controls, either directly or indirectly, more than a 10 percent interest in an entity required to be licensed under this chapter; or
(4)  is required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305, Government Code, because of the person's activities for compensation on behalf of an entity required to be licensed under this chapter.
(g)  The presiding officer of the commission may remove from the advisory committee a member who is ineligible for membership under Subsection (f).
(h)  A member may not receive compensation for service on the advisory committee. Subject to the department's budget and any limitation provided by the General Appropriations Act, a committee member may receive reimbursement for the actual and necessary expenses incurred while performing advisory committee duties.
(i)  A decision of the advisory committee is effective only on a majority vote of the members present.
(j)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the size, composition, or duration of the advisory committee or to the appointment of the committee's presiding officer.
Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1284 (H.B. 1451), Sec. 2, eff. June 17, 2011.
Amended by: 
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 663 (H.B. 1560), Sec. 1.25(20), eff. September 1, 2021.