TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS

(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 law governing board and department operations; (2) the programs, functions, rules, and budget of the department; (3) the scope of and limitations on the rulemaking authority of the board; (4) the results of the most recent formal audit of the department; (5) the requirements of: (A) the 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 department or the Texas Ethics Commission. (b-1) In addition to the information described by Subsection (b), the training program must provide the person with information regarding: (1) the legislative history of Subchapter C, Chapter 497; (2) the history and operation of programs under that subchapter; and (3) any applicable federal law concerning the operation or certification of a program under that subchapter. (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. (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 board. Each member of the board shall sign and submit to the executive director a statement acknowledging that the member received and has reviewed the training manual.