MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS.

(a) A member of the board who is an administrator must:

(1) be a resident of this state and a citizen of the United States;

(2) be licensed under this subchapter and currently serving as a nursing facility administrator or have direct supervisory responsibility on a daily basis over an administrator who works in a nursing facility; and

(3) hold a degree from an accredited four-year college or university.

(b) An administrator who does not have a degree as required by Subsection (a)(3) may be qualified to serve as a member of the board if the administrator has two years of practical experience as an administrator for every year less than four that the administrator has completed at a four-year college or university.

(c) A member or employee of the board may not:

(1) be an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a trade association in the nursing facility industry; or

(2) be related within the second degree by affinity or within the third degree by consanguinity to an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a trade association in the nursing facility industry.

(d) A member of the board who represents the general public may not have a financial interest, other than as a consumer, in a nursing facility as an officer, director, partner, owner, employee, attorney, or paid consultant or be related within the second degree by affinity or within the third degree by consanguinity to a person who has a financial interest, other than as a consumer, in a nursing facility as an officer, director, partner, owner, employee, attorney, or paid consultant.

(e) A person who is required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305, Government Code, because of the person's activities for compensation on behalf of a profession related to the operation of the board may not serve on the board.