2014 Tennessee Code
Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities
Special Districts
Chapter 86 - Emergency Communications
Part 3 - Statewide Enhanced 911 Service
§ 7-86-302 - Emergency communication board established -- Members -- Terms of office -- Officers -- Meetings.

(a) There is created in the department of commerce and insurance an emergency communications board, referred to in this part as "the board", for the purpose of assisting emergency communications district boards of directors in the area of management, operations, and accountability, and establishing emergency communications for all citizens of the state. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, the board shall, upon being constituted, exercise its powers and duties, in accordance with the provisions of this part, relative to all emergency communications districts established pursuant to this chapter or by any public or private act.

(b) (1) The board shall be composed of nine (9) members as follows:

(A) One (1) member, appointed by the governor, who has no connection to emergency communications districts and who does not fulfill any other requirements for appointment to the board;

(B) The comptroller of the treasury or the comptroller's designee. The appointment of the comptroller's designee to the board shall be for the term of office of the comptroller;

(C) One (1) representative of county government, appointed by the governor, who may be appointed from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested county services groups including, but not limited to, the Tennessee County Services Association;

(D) One (1) representative of city government, appointed by the governor, who may be appointed from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested municipal groups including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Municipal League; and

(E) (i) Five (5) members, appointed by the governor, who shall either be current directors of emergency communications districts or current members of emergency communications district boards of directors at the time of their appointment. The governor may appoint such members from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested emergency communications groups including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Emergency Number Association, or from a nominating resolution adopted by an emergency communications district. No more than two (2) members appointed pursuant to this subdivision (b)(5) shall be residents of the same congressional district.

(ii) Nominations shall be made not less than thirty (30) days before the end of a term, and shall be filed with the governor and the board. In appointing members, the governor shall strive to ensure that the composition of the board represents the diversity of persons in Tennessee by considering race, gender, age, and geographical and political interests.

(2) The governor shall consult with interested groups including, but not limited to, the organizations listed in subdivision (b)(1) to determine qualified persons to fill positions on the board.

(c) Members shall be appointed to four-year terms, except as provided in this subsection (c). Two (2) of the members appointed by the governor shall be appointed to serve an initial term of two (2) years, two (2) members shall be appointed to serve an initial term of three (3) years, and the remaining four (4) members shall be appointed for an initial term of four (4) years. The governor may select the members whose initial terms are less than four (4) years. Thereafter, such members shall be appointed and serve four-year terms. Members appointed by the governor may be appointed to successive terms.

(d) The board shall elect a chair and such other officers as it may deem necessary and appropriate. Such officers shall be elected for two-year terms.

(e) The board shall meet at least quarterly, and at the call of the chair.

(f) A quorum shall consist of five (5) or more members; and all official action of the board shall require a quorum.

(g) All meetings of the board shall be subject to the open meeting provisions of title 8, chapter 44, and the public records provisions of title 10, chapter 7.