TITLE 10.COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Part 6. OFFICE OF RURAL COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

Chapter 256. ADMINISTRATION

Subchapter A. MANAGEMENT POLICIES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

10 TAC §§256.1 - 256.15

The Office of Rural Community Affairs (Office) adopts new §§256.1 - 256.15 to establish the respective responsibilities of the Executive Committee and the Executive Director. Section 256.5 and §256.14 are adopted with changes to the proposed text as published in the July 1, 2005, issue of the Texas Register (30 TexReg 3804). Sections 256.1 - 256.4, 256.6 - 256.13, and 256.15 are adopted without changes and will not be republished.

There are changes to the text of §256.5 and §256.14 as proposed and published in the Texas Register due to typographical errors. The title of §256.5 has been changed from "Secretary/Treasurer" to "Secretary." In §256.14 incorrect citations in subsection (a)(2) and (3) were changed.

Section 487.025 of the Texas Government Code requires the Office of Rural Community Affairs to develop and implement policies that separate the policy-making responsibilities of the Executive Committee and the management responsibilities of the Executive Director and staff of the agency. Section 487.027 of the Texas Government Code requires the Executive Committee to develop and implement policies that provide the public with the opportunity to appear before the Executive Committee and to speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of the agency.

The rules will assist the Office by identifying the respective policy-making and management responsibilities of the Executive Committee and Executive Director. The rules will also assist interested persons by notifying them of their opportunities for providing public comment to the Executive Committee.

No comments were received by the Office in response to the publication of the proposed rules. The rules as adopted establish the respective responsibilities of the Executive Committee and the Executive Director and provide standards and a process for receiving comments from the public on agency issues.

The new sections are adopted pursuant to the authority of §487.052 of the Texas Government Code that provides the Office with the authority to adopt rules to implement its responsibilities.

§256.5.Secretary.

(a) Members of the Executive Committee shall annually elect a secretary/treasurer from among the members of the Executive Committee.

(b) The secretary, in the absence of the presiding officer and assistant presiding officer, shall perform the duties of the presiding officer as specified in §256.3 of this title (relating to Presiding Officer) and shall perform such other duties, as the Executive Committee shall designate.

(c) The secretary shall work with the Executive Director to assure the proper recording of minutes of the Executive Committee meetings and to assure that a copy of the minutes is transmitted to each Executive Committee member before each ensuing meeting and have charge of all records, proceedings and documents of the Executive Committee and maintain documentation of the legally required notices of each Executive Committee meeting.

§256.14.Actions Requiring Executive Committee Approval.

(a) The following reports are subject to approval, adoption or ratification by the Executive Committee during a meeting of the Executive Committee conducted pursuant to applicable state law:

(1) The Strategic Plan required by Chapter 2056 of the Government Code;

(2) Pursuant to §487.056 of the Government Code, the biennial report to the legislature regarding the activities of the office;

(3) Pursuant to §487.558 of the Government Code, the status of the permanent endowment fund for the rural communities health care investment program;

(4) Pursuant to §487.057 of the Government Code, the Rural Health Work Plan;

(5) The legislative appropriation request to the Governor's Office of Budget and Planning and the Legislative Budget Board;

(6) Proposed legislative changes;

(7) The annual Biennial Operating Plan, Budget and Financial Report; and

(8) The Consolidated State Plan and One-Year Action Plan pursuant to 24 Code of Federal Regulations §570.485.

(b) Pursuant to §487.052 of the Government Code the Executive Committee has the exclusive authority to adopt rules for the implementation of the statutory responsibilities of the office.

(c) The appointment or removal of the office's internal auditor is conducted by the Executive Committee.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on August 15, 2005.

TRD-200503394

Charles S. Stone

Executive Director

Office of Rural Community Affairs

Effective date: September 4, 2005

Proposal publication date: July 1, 2005

For further information, please call: (512) 936-6710