Board members must represent the general public, and several conflicts make a person ineligible for board service or for serving as general counsel.
Sec. 61.0222. RESTRICTIONS ON BOARD APPOINTMENT, MEMBERSHIP, AND EMPLOYMENT. (a) A member of the board must be a representative of the general public. A person is not eligible for appointment as a member of the board if the person or the person's spouse: (1) is employed by or participates in the management of a business entity or other organization regulated by the board or receiving funds from the board; (2) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than a 10 percent interest in a business entity or other organization regulated by the board or receiving funds from the board; or (3) uses or receives a substantial amount of tangible goods, services, or funds from the board, other than compensation or reimbursement authorized by law for board membership, attendance, or expenses. (b) A person may not be a member of the board and may not be a board employee employed in a "bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity," as that phrase is used for purposes of establishing an exemption to the overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq.), and its subsequent amendments, if: (1) the person is an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a Texas trade association in the field of higher education; or (2) the person's spouse is an officer, manager, or paid consultant of a Texas trade association in the field of higher education. (c) A person may not be a member of the board or act as the general counsel to the board if the person is required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305, Government Code, because of the person's activities for compensation on behalf of a profession related to the operation of the board. (d) In this section, "Texas trade association" means a cooperative and voluntarily joined statewide association of business or professional competitors in this state designed to assist its members and its industry or profession in dealing with mutual business or professional problems and in promoting their common interest. Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1084, Sec. 1.02, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 820, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.