TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS OF STATE BOARD

(a) A person who is elected or appointed and qualifies for office as a member of the state board may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a member in attendance at a meeting of the state 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 law governing state board operations; (2) the programs, functions, rules, and budget of the state board; (3) the scope of and limitations on the rulemaking authority of the state board; (4) the results of the most recent formal audit of the state board; (5) the requirements of: (A) laws relating to open meetings, public information, administrative procedure, and disclosing conflicts of interest; and (B) other laws applicable to members of a state policy-making body in performing their duties; and (6) any applicable ethics policies adopted by the state board or the Texas Ethics Commission. (c) A person elected or appointed to the state 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 attendance at the program occurs before or after the person qualifies for office. (d) The executive director shall create a training manual that includes the information required by Subsection (b). The executive director shall distribute a copy of the training manual annually to each member of the state board. Each member of the state board shall sign and submit to the executive director a statement acknowledging that the member received and has reviewed the training manual.