Lone Star Coastal Partnership

(a) Establishment There is established the Lone Star Coastal Partnership to facilitate cooperation among and to coordinate the activities of Federal, State, and local governmental entities, nongovernmental organizations, individuals and private entities in the development and implementation of the Plan for the Network. (b) Membership (1) In general The Partnership shall be composed of up to 31 willing members as provided for in this subsection, with not more than 49 percent from Federal and State governmental entities, representing fee or less than fee interests in land, and such others as appointed by the Secretary within 180 days of the effective date of this section as follows: (A) One individual, appointed by the Secretary, to represent the National Park Service. (B) One individual, appointed by the Secretary, to represent the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. (C) The Texas Governor’s Office of Economic Development Tourism office, ex officio. (D) The Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, ex officio. (E) The Director of the Texas Historical Commission, ex officio. (F) The County Judges of Galveston, Brazoria, Matagorda, Chambers, and Jefferson Counties, ex officio. (G) One individual per county to represent private landowners in the respective counties, as recommended by the participating County Judges from Galveston, Brazoria, Matagorda, Chambers, and Jefferson Counties, and appointed by the Secretary. These individuals serve at the pleasure of the respective County Judges. (H) Local land managers, ex officio, of each of the associated sites, not to exceed 15 board members at one time. (I) The Chairman of the Board, ex officio, of the Lone Star Coastal Alliance, to represent the Alliance, a nonprofit organization the sole purpose of which is to support the Network, including but not limited to fundraising. (2) Ex officio members Any member serving on the Partnership ex oficio shall serve by virtue of holding the office that provides for such service and shall continue to serve only for so long as the member holds that office. (c) Resignation Any member of the Partnership may resign at any time, removing themselves and their sites from the Partnership. Sites owned by a former partner may remain in the Network by written agreement between the former partner and the Partnership. (d) Compensation Members of the Partnership shall serve without pay, but while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Partnership, members may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. (e) Election of officers The Partnership shall elect one of its members as Chairperson and one as Vice Chairperson. The term of office of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be one year. The Vice Chairperson shall serve as Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson. (f) Vacancy Any vacancy on the Partnership shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. (g) Meetings The Partnership shall meet at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members. (h) Quorum A majority of the Partnership shall constitute a quorum. (i) Committees The Chairperson may establish committees and appoint to the committees members and non-members of the Partnership. The purpose of the committees shall be to make recommendations to the Lone Star Coastal Partnership on issues related to the development and implementation of the Plan, as well as to undertake special activities as requested by the Chairperson. (1) Membership In addition to members of the Partnership appointed to the Committees, the Chairperson may appoint nonvoting advisors with knowledge related to the purposes of the committees from the following categories of entities, including but not limited to— (A) municipalities; (B) educational and cultural institutions; (C) environmental organizations; (D) business and commercial entities related to transportation, tourism, energy, and the maritime industry; (E) organizations focused on coastal issues; and (F) Federal, State, and local agency representatives. (2) Officers The Chairperson of the Partnership shall appoint members of the Partnership to chair respective Committees. (3) Procedures All meetings of the Committees shall be open to the public. (j) Executive committee The Partnership is authorized to establish an executive committee through a two-thirds vote of the full membership of the Partnership for the purposes of overseeing the development and implementation of the Plan. (k) Staff of the partnership (1) Detailees The Secretary may provide the Partnership with such staff and technical assistance as the Secretary, after consultation with the Partnership, considers appropriate to enable the Partnership to carry out its duties. The Secretary may accept the services of personnel detailed from the State, or any entity represented on the Partnership. (2) Additional staff The Partnership may hire staff to accomplish the goals as set out in this Act, as deemed appropriate, and through means determined by agreement of the Partnership and Executive Committee. (l) Hearings The Partnership may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Partnership determines appropriate. (m) Donations Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Partnership may seek and accept donations of funds, property, or services from individuals, foundations, corporations, and other private and public entities for the purpose of carrying out this section. (n) Use of funds To obtain money The Partnership may use its funds to obtain money from any source under any program or law requiring the recipient of such money to make a contribution in order to receive such money. (o) Mails The Partnership may use the United States mails in the same manner and upon the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United States. (p) Obtaining property The Partnership may obtain from willing parties through agreed upon means, such property, facilities, and services as may be needed to carry out its duties, except that the Partnership may not acquire any real property or interest in real property. (q) Ethics All members of the Partnership are expected to comply with applicable ethics rules and regulations, which, along with usual and customary conflict of interest disclosure requirements, will be established in the Partnership charter and bylaws.