Sec. 534.0065. QUALIFICATIONS; CONFLICT OF INTEREST; REMOVAL. (a) As a local public official, a member of the board of trustees of a community center shall uphold the member's position of public trust by meeting and maintaining the applicable qualifications for membership and by complying with the applicable requirements relating to conflicts of interest.

(b) A person is not eligible for appointment as a member of a board of trustees if the person or the person's spouse:

(1) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than a 10 percent interest in a business entity or other organization receiving funds from the community center by contract or other method; or

(2) uses or receives a substantial amount of tangible goods or funds from the community center, other than:

(A) compensation or reimbursement authorized by law for board of trustees membership, attendance, or expenses; or

(B) as a consumer or as a family member of a client or patient receiving services from the community center.

(c) The primary residence of a member of the board of trustees must be in the local service area the member represents.

(d) A member of the board of trustees is subject to Chapter 171, Local Government Code.

(e) A member of the board of trustees may not:

(1) refer for services a client or patient to a business entity owned or controlled by a member of the board of trustees, unless the business entity is the only business entity that provides the needed services within the jurisdiction of the community center;

(2) use a community center facility in the conduct of a business entity owned or controlled by that member;

(3) solicit, accept, or agree to accept from another person or business entity a benefit in return for the member's decision, opinion, recommendation, vote, or other exercise of discretion as a local public official or for a violation of a duty imposed by law;

(4) receive any benefit for the referral of a client or a patient to the community center or to another business entity;

(5) appoint, vote for, or confirm the appointment of a person to a paid office or position with the community center if the person is related to a member of the board of trustees by affinity within the second degree or by consanguinity within the third degree; or

(6) solicit or receive a political contribution from a supplier to or contractor with the community center.

(f) Not later than the date on which a member of the board of trustees takes office by appointment or reappointment and not later than the anniversary of that date, each member shall annually execute and file with the community center an affidavit acknowledging that the member has read the requirements for qualification, conflict of interest, and removal prescribed by this chapter.

(g) In addition to any grounds for removal adopted under Section 534.004(a), it is a ground for removal of a member of a board of trustees if the member:

(1) violates Chapter 171, Local Government Code;

(2) is not eligible for appointment to the board of trustees at the time of appointment as provided by Subsections (b) and (c);

(3) does not maintain during service on the board of trustees the qualifications required by Subsections (b) and (c);

(4) violates a provision of Subsection (e);

(5) violates a provision of Section 534.0115; or

(6) does not execute the affidavit required by Subsection (f).

(h) If a board of trustees is composed of members of the governing body of a local agency or organizational combination of local agencies, this section applies only to the qualifications for and removal from membership on the board of trustees.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 107, Sec. 6.13, eff. Aug. 30, 1993.

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.1336, eff. April 2, 2015.