Sec. 2306.028. TRAINING. (a) A person who is appointed to and qualifies for office as a member of the board may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a member in attendance at a meeting of the board until the person completes a training program that complies with this section.

(b) The training program must provide the person with information regarding:

(1) the legislation that created the department and the board;

(2) the programs operated by the department;

(3) the role and functions of the department;

(4) the rules of the department, with an emphasis on the rules that relate to disciplinary and investigatory authority;

(5) the current budget for the department;

(6) the results of the most recent formal audit of the department;

(7) the requirements of:

(A) the open meetings law, Chapter 551;

(B) the public information law, Chapter 552;

(C) the administrative procedure law, Chapter 2001; and

(D) other laws relating to public officials, including conflict-of-interest laws;

(8) the requirements of:

(A) state and federal fair housing laws, including Chapter 301, Property Code, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. Section 3601 et seq.), and the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. Section 3601 et seq.);

(B) the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. Section 2000a et seq.);

(C) the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.); and

(D) the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 701 et seq.); and

(9) any applicable ethics policies adopted by the department or the Texas Ethics Commission.

(c) A person appointed to the board is entitled to reimbursement, as provided by the General Appropriations Act, for the travel expenses incurred in attending the training program regardless of whether the attendance at the program occurs before or after the person qualifies for office.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1367, Sec. 1.03, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.