TEXAS OYSTER COUNCIL.

(a) The Texas Oyster Council is created.

(b) The council is composed of:

(1) two members appointed by the executive commissioner as nominated by the Texas Oyster Growers and Dealers Association or a successor organization;

(2) one member appointed by the executive commissioner as nominated by the Coastal Oyster Leaseholder's Association;

(3) two members appointed by the executive commissioner from a list of oyster dealers who have held a shellfish certificate in this state for not less than six months of each of the three years preceding the nomination and who are certified at the time of appointment;

(4) one representative appointed by the chairman of the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference; and

(5) three consumer members, including one person professionally licensed or with work experience in the field of environmental survey, environmental sanitation, environmental engineering, or a similar field related to environmental or pollution conditions and their effect on molluscan shellfish harvest areas, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) Members of the Texas Oyster Council serve one-year terms expiring August 31 of each year and may be reappointed at the end of a term.

(d) A member of the Texas Oyster Council may not receive compensation for service on the council, but is entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred by the member while conducting the business of the council, as provided by the General Appropriations Act.

(e) A person is not eligible for appointment as a consumer member of the Texas Oyster Council if the person or the person's spouse:

(1) is a harvester, processor, or wholesaler regulated under this chapter;

(2) is employed by a harvester, processor, or wholesaler regulated under this chapter;

(3) is a retailer of molluscan shellfish; or

(4) is employed by a retailer of molluscan shellfish.

(f) The Texas Oyster Council shall elect a presiding officer from among its members.