DEFINITIONS

In this chapter: (1) "Advisory board" means an entity with multiple members that has as its primary function advising the commission or department. (1-a) "Commission" means the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation. (1-b) "Communicate directly with" has the meaning assigned by Section 305.002, Government Code. (2) "Department" means the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. (2-a) "Gift" includes a gratuity, trip, meal, or other thing of value for which the recipient does not compensate the person making the gift and that is not conferred on account of kinship or a personal, professional, or business relationship independent of the official status of the recipient. (2-b) "Legislation" has the meaning assigned by Section 305.002, Government Code. (3) "License" means a license, certificate, registration, title, or permit issued by the department. (4) "License holder" means a person who holds a license issued by the department. (4-a) "Member of the legislative branch" has the meaning assigned by Section 305.002, Government Code. (4-b) "Participated" means to have taken action as an officer or employee through decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, giving advice, or similar action. (4-c) "Particular matter" includes an investigation, an application, a request for a ruling or determination, a license proceeding, rulemaking, a contract, a controversy, a claim, a charge, an accusation, an arrest, or a judicial or other proceeding. (4-d) "Person that has a significant financial interest in the lottery" means: (A) a person or a board member, officer, trustee, or general partner of a person that manufactures, distributes, sells, or produces lottery equipment, supplies, services, or advertising; (B) an employee of a person that manufactures, distributes, sells, or produces lottery equipment, supplies, services, or advertising and that employee is directly involved in the manufacturing, distribution, selling, or production of lottery equipment, supplies, services, or advertising; (C) a person or a board member, officer, trustee, or general partner of a person that has made a bid to operate the lottery in the preceding two years or that intends to make a bid to operate the lottery or an employee of the person if the employee is directly involved in making the bid; or (D) a sales agent. (4-e) "Political committee" has the meaning assigned by Section 251.001, Election Code. (4-f) "Political contribution" has the meaning assigned by Section 251.001, Election Code. (5) "Respondent" means a person, regardless of whether the person is a license holder, who is charged with violating a law establishing a regulatory program administered by the department or a rule adopted or order issued by the commission or executive director. (6) "Sanction" means an action by the executive director against a license holder or another person, including the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license, the reprimand of a license holder, or the placement of a license holder on probation.