BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

(a) The commission is governed by a board of directors composed of the following nine voting members:

(1) three members appointed by the governor;

(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(a-1) The executive director of the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office serves as an ex officio nonvoting member of the board.

(b) In making appointments under Subsection (a), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives shall prioritize appointing individuals with experience in:

(1) the nongovernmental commercial space industry;

(2) governmental space operations;

(3) military space operations;

(4) space-related economic development;

(5) space-related academic research; and

(6) nonprofit support of the space economy.

(c) Voting members of the board appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house serve for staggered six-year terms, with the terms of three members expiring on January 31 of each odd-numbered year.

(d) If a vacancy occurs on the board, the appropriate appointing authority shall appoint a successor, in the same manner as the original appointment, to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. The appropriate appointing authority shall appoint the successor not later than the 30th day after the date the vacancy occurs.

(e) Not later than the 30th day after the date a voting board member's term expires, the appropriate appointing authority shall appoint a replacement.

(f) The board shall elect a presiding officer from among the voting members of the board.