Section 206.22 - Public Access to Board Meetings(a) Posted agenda items. A person may speak before the board on any matter on a posted agenda by submitting a request, in a form and manner as prescribed by the department, prior to the matter being taken up by the board. A person speaking before the board on an agenda item will be allowed an opportunity to speak: (1) prior to a motion by the board on the item; and(2) for a maximum of three minutes, except as provided in subsections (d)(6) and (e) of this section.(b) Open comment period. (1) At each regular board meeting, the board shall allow an open comment period to receive public comment on any other matter that is under the jurisdiction of the board.(2) A person wanting to speak to the board under this subsection shall complete a registration form, as provided by the department, prior to the beginning of the open comment period.(3) Except as provided in subsections (d)(6) and (e) of this section, each person shall be allowed to speak for a maximum of three minutes in the order in which requests to speak were received.(c) Disability accommodation. Persons who have special communication or accommodation needs and who plan to attend a meeting, may contact the department's contact listed in the posted meeting agenda for the purpose of requests for auxiliary aids or services. Requests shall be made at least two days before a meeting. The department shall make every reasonable effort to accommodate these needs.(d) Conduct and decorum. The board shall receive public input as authorized by this section, subject to the following guidelines.(1) Questioning of speakers shall be reserved to board members and the department's administrative staff.(2) Organizations, associations, or groups are encouraged to present their commonly held views, and same or similar comments, through a representative member where possible.(3) Comments shall remain pertinent to the issue being discussed.(4) A person who disrupts a meeting shall leave the meeting room and the premises if ordered to do so by the chair.(5) Time allotted to one speaker may not be reassigned to another speaker.(6) The time allotted for comments under this section may be increased or decreased by the chair, or in the chair's absence, the vice chair, as may be appropriate to assure opportunity for the maximum number of persons to appear.(e) Waiver. Subject to the approval of the chair, a requirement of this section may be waived in the public interest if necessary for the performance of the responsibilities of the board or the department.43 Tex. Admin. Code § 206.22
The provisions of this §206.22 adopted to be effective February 4, 2010, 35 TexReg 654; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 40, Number 25, June 19, 2015, TexReg 4001, eff. 6/25/2015; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 46, Number 08, February 19, 2021, TexReg 1252, eff. 2/28/2021; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 17, April 26, 2024, TexReg 2699, eff. 6/1/2024