(a) The commission shall appoint an advisory board to advise the commission on matters relating to the consortium. The advisory board is charged with reviewing information on the status and plans for consortial programs and services, providing input and recommendations regarding those programs and services, and making recommendations regarding consortia membership and governance. The advisory board may recommend to the Director and Librarian that:      
        (1) the consortium enter into cooperative projects with entities other than public libraries, libraries of clinical medicine, or institutions of higher education; and/or       
        (2) the consortium admit or deny membership status or affiliate membership status to libraries of clinical medicine, independent institutions of higher education, and eligible nonprofit libraries.       
      (b) Members of the advisory board shall be chosen to present as much variety as possible in geographic distribution and size and type of institution. At least two members must be representatives of the general public. Each of the following types of institutions must be represented by at least one member: public libraries; public junior colleges; general academic teaching institutions and private or independent institutions of higher educations; and public school districts. The maximum number of members shall not exceed 11. Members of the advisory board must be qualified by training and experience to advise the commission on policy.     
      (c) The advisory board shall meet at least twice a year regarding consortium programs and plans at the call of the advisory board's chair or of the Director and Librarian. The advisory board reports to the agency through its meeting and meeting minutes, and/or reports or letters to the Director and Librarian.     
      (d) Members of the advisory board serve three-year terms beginning September 1.     
      (e) A member of the advisory board serves without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties, subject to any applicable limitation on reimbursement provided by the General Appropriations Act.     
      (f) The advisory board shall elect a chair and a vice chair at the first meeting of each fiscal year.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §8.4 adopted to be effective June 24, 1998, 23 TexReg 6436; amended to be effective December 9, 2001, 26 TexReg 9845; amended to be effective April 8, 2010, 35 TexReg 2742; amended to be effective February 26, 2015, 40 TexReg 812; amended to be effective November 28, 2018, 43 TexReg 7669