Sec. 497.111. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. (a) The Advisory Committee on Agriculture to the institutional division is created.

(b) The advisory committee consists of five members. One member must be a member of the board, and if possible that member should have a knowledge of agriculture. One member must be a member of the faculty at Texas A&M University with expertise in agriculture. The other members must be citizens of the state with knowledge of agriculture. The board shall appoint the board member, the faculty member from Texas A&M University, and two of the citizen members. The commissioner of agriculture shall appoint the remaining citizen member.

(c) Members of the advisory committee serve at the will of the board.

(d) The member of the advisory committee who is the board member serves as chairman of the advisory committee.

(e) Members of the advisory committee are not entitled to compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing their official duties as advisory committee members.

(f) Necessary costs for the operation of the committee shall be paid from funds appropriated to the board.

(g) The advisory committee shall hold regular quarterly meetings on dates fixed by the committee and special meetings as the committee determines necessary.

(h) The advisory committee shall keep a public record of its decisions at the general office of the institutional division.

(i) The advisory committee shall present to the board periodic evaluations of agricultural programs, suggestions for new areas of agricultural operations, and reviews related to the need for mechanization and the use of inmate labor in agricultural operations. The committee shall report to the board on its activities at least twice each year.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 212, Sec. 2.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Renumbered from Sec. 496.111 and amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 16, Sec. 10.01(a), eff. Aug. 26, 1991.