85R5249 GCB-F     By: Hughes S.B. No. 859       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the membership of the Texas Racing Commission.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 2.02(a), Texas Racing Act (Article 179e,   Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:          (a)  The commission consists of eight [seven] members   appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate   and [two ex officio members who shall have the right to vote. The ex   officio members are:                [(1)]  the chairman of the Public Safety Commission or   a member of the Public Safety Commission designated by the chairman   of the Public Safety Commission, who shall serve as an ex officio   member with the right to vote [; and                [(2)     the comptroller of public accounts or the   comptroller's designee].          SECTION 2.  Section 2.05(a), Texas Racing Act (Article 179e,   Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:          (a)  Six [Five] of the appointed members of the commission   must be representatives of the general public and have general   knowledge of business or agribusiness. At least one of those   appointed members may be a veterinarian, and being licensed as a   veterinarian satisfies the requirement that the person have general   knowledge of business or agribusiness. One additional appointed   member must have special knowledge or experience related to   greyhound racing and one additional appointed member must have   special knowledge or experience related to horse racing. A person   is not eligible for appointment as a member of the commission if the   person or the person's spouse:                (1)  is licensed by the commission, except as a   commissioner;                (2)  is employed by the commission or participates in   the management of a business entity or other organization regulated   by the commission or receiving funds from or through the   commission;                (3)  owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more   than a 10 percent interest in a business entity or other   organization regulated by the commission or receiving funds from or   through the commission; or                (4)  uses or receives a substantial amount of tangible   goods, services, or funds from or through the commission, other   than compensation or reimbursement authorized by law for commission   membership, attendance, or expenses.          SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the governor shall appoint one additional member to the   Texas Racing Commission to comply with Section 2.02(a), Texas   Racing Act (Article 179e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as   amended by this Act. The additional member appointed in accordance   with Section 2.02(a) shall serve a term expiring February 1, 2019.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.