Agenda Item 1 - Call to order

Agenda Item 2 - Roll call and discussion and possible action to excuse Board member absence(s), if any

The following members of the Board, constituting a quorum, were present: Chair Ms. Sara Oates, Ms. Martha Gayle Reid Lynch, Mr. Clayton Black, Mr. Chance Bolton, Mr. Jim Jeffries, Mr. Buster Renfrow, Ms. Stephanie Robinson and Ms. Lisa Sprinkle.

ACTION TAKEN: Mr. Bolton moved to excuse the absence of Mr. Tony Peña. Mr Jeffries seconded the motion, and the Board approved the motion unanimously.

Agenda Item 3 - Discussion regarding annual statutory training including:

a. Law governing Board operations

b. Programs, functions, rules and budget of the Board

c. Scope of and limitations on the rulemaking authority of the Board

d. Types of board rules, interpretations, and enforcement actions that may implicate federal antitrust law

e. Results of the most recent formal audit of the Board

f. Laws relating to open meetings, public information, administrative procedure, and disclosure of conflicts of interest

g. Other laws applicable to members of a state policymaking body in performing their duties

h. Any applicable ethics policies adopted by the Board or the Texas Ethics Commission

i. MOU between TREC / TALCB

j. Other Board policies, including meeting attendance, mentorship, and attendance at AARO Conferences

k. Statement acknowledging receipt and review of training manual

Agenda Item 4 - Discussion regarding enforcement processes and reports including:

a. Complaint process and complaint categories

b. Case studies, including review of closed complaint files

Due to technical difficulties, no case studies or closed case files were reviewed.

The Chair called for a break at 12:20pm.

The Chair reconvened the meeting at 1:07pm.

Agenda Item 5 - Discussion regarding annual reports, including:

a. Fiscal Year 2019 v. Fiscal Year 2018 Comparison  

b. FY 2019 Self-Directed Semi-Independent (SDSI) Agency Report, including 5-year trends

c. Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Reconciliation and 5-year trends

d. Report on Customer Service Reserve and other TALCB Reserves

e. Report on TREC / TALCB ITS Projects

f. Other annual reports

Agenda Item 6 - Discussion regarding Sunset Review, including implementation status of management directives and legislative changes

Agenda Item 7 - Discussion regarding Letter from Governor Abbott and possible response, including:

a. Identifying less restrictive licensing alternatives and reciprocal licensing opportunities for persons licensed in other states and military spouses

b. Reducing license application and examination fees and providing fee waivers for Texas residents eligible for certain public assistance programs

c. Reducing educational and experience requirements for licensure and accepting professional experience as a substitute for licensure requirements

d. Accepting online continuing education in lieu of requiring in-person attendance

e. Eliminating blanket licensure exclusions for persons with criminal history in favor of identifying specific criminal offenses directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the occupation that disqualify applicants from obtaining or maintaining a license and exempting arrests that do not result in a conviction or placement on deferred adjudication community supervision when determining a person’s fitness for a licensed occupation

The Chair called for a break at 2:40pm.

The Chair reconvened the meeting at 2:58pm.

Agenda Item 8 - Discussion regarding Strategic Plan for FY2021-2025

a. Initiatives carried over from prior plans or not yet accomplished

b. Stakeholder survey results

c. New policy initiatives suggested by leadership, Board Members, and staff

Agenda Item 9 - Request for potential future workshop agenda items

Mr. Renfrow requested an item detailing the application process from application to issuance. 

Agenda Item 10 - Discussion and possible action to schedule future workshop dates

Future workshop date of February 27, 2020 was discussed.

Agenda Item 11 - The Chair adjourned the meeting at 3:58pm.