The Public Safety Commission controls the department, and its members and chair are subject to appointment, security-clearance, meeting, and public-participation rules.
Sec. 411.003. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION. (a) The Public Safety Commission controls the department. (b) The commission is composed of five citizens of this state appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Members must be selected because of their peculiar qualifications for the position and must reflect the diverse geographic regions and population groups of this state. Members must have and maintain a secret security clearance granted by the United States government. A member may serve on the commission upon the granting of an interim secret security clearance, but may not be given access to classified information, participate in a briefing involving classified information, or vote on an issue involving classified information until a secret security clearance has been finally approved by the United States government. Appointments to the commission shall be made without regard to race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin. In making an appointment the governor shall consider, among other things, the person's knowledge of laws, experience in the enforcement of law, honesty, integrity, education, training, and executive ability. (c) Members serve staggered six-year terms with the terms of either one or two members expiring January 1 of each even-numbered year. (d) The governor shall designate one member of the commission as chairman of the commission to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the governor. The commission shall meet at the times and places specified by commission rule or at the call of the chairman. The chairman shall oversee the preparation of an agenda for each meeting and ensure that a copy is provided to each member at least seven days before the meeting. (e) A member serves without compensation for service on the commission but is entitled to per diem for expenses as provided by the General Appropriations Act. (f) The commission shall develop and implement policies that provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear before the commission and to speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of the commission. Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 147, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 790, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 258 (S.B. 11), Sec. 20.01, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 120 (S.B. 1814), Sec. 1, eff. May 18, 2013.