(a) There is created the Tennessee human rights commission.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 4-21-201

  • Commission: means the Tennessee human rights commission. See Tennessee Code 4-21-102
  • Person: includes one (1) or more individuals, governments, governmental agencies, public authorities, labor organizations, corporations, legal representatives, partnerships, associations, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, mutual companies, joint stock companies, trusts, unincorporated organizations or other organized groups of persons. See Tennessee Code 4-21-102
  • Representative: when applied to those who represent a decedent, includes executors and administrators, unless the context implies heirs and distributees. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b)

(1) The commission consists of nine (9) members to be appointed as follows:

(A) The speaker of the senate shall appoint three (3) members;
(B) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint three (3) members; and
(C) The governor shall appoint three (3) members.
(2) The appointing authorities shall appoint one (1) member from each grand division of the state.
(c)

(1) The entire membership of the commission as composed on August 31, 2022, must be vacated on September 1, 2022, and new members appointed in accordance with subsection (b).
(2) In order to stagger the terms of the newly appointed commission members, initial appointments must be made as follows:

(A) Each of the appointing authorities shall make one (1) initial appointment for a term that begins on September 1, 2022, and expires on June 30, 2024;
(B) Each of the appointing authorities shall make one (1) initial appointment for a term that begins on September 1, 2022, and expires on June 30, 2025; and
(C) Each of the appointing authorities shall make one (1) initial appointment for a term that begins on September 1, 2022, and expires on June 30, 2026.
(d)

(1) Except as provided in subdivision (d)(5)(B), following the expiration of members’ initial terms as prescribed in subdivision (c)(2), appointments to the commission must be for terms of four (4) years and must begin on July 1 and terminate on June 30, four (4) years thereafter.
(2) Each member shall serve until the expiration of the term to which the member was appointed and until the member’s successor is appointed and qualified.
(3) A vacancy occurring other than by expiration of a term must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only.
(4) A successor must be appointed from the same grand division of the state in which the member being replaced resides.
(5)

(A) Excluding the initial terms as provided in subdivision (c)(2), a member is eligible for reappointment to the commission following the expiration of the member’s term, but may serve no more than two (2) consecutive four-year terms.
(B) The initial term served by the person appointed under subdivision (c)(2)(C) is considered a four-year term served under subdivision (d)(5)(A).
(e) The commission shall designate one (1) member to serve as chair for a two-year term. A member may serve as chair for up to two (2) consecutive two-year terms, and is eligible to be reappointed as chair after a minimum two-year break in service.
(f) Members must be appointed on a nonpartisan basis and must be broadly representative of employees, proprietors, trade unions, religious groups, human rights groups, and the general public.
(g) Members are entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and to reasonable fees for each day of service as hearing examiners.
(h)

(1) A member who misses more than fifty percent (50%) of the scheduled meetings in a calendar year must be removed as a member of the commission.
(2) The chair of the commission shall promptly notify, or cause to be notified, the appointing authority of a member who fails to satisfy the attendance requirement as prescribed in subdivision (h)(1) of the need for a new appointment.
(i) Notwithstanding a provision of the Tennessee Governmental Entity Review Law, compiled in chapter 29 of this title, to the contrary, the commission shall provide a detailed accounting of its finances and a comprehensive analysis of how the commission is adhering to the requirements of this chapter to the division of audit within the office of the comptroller of the treasury, the chair of the government operations committee of the house of representatives, and the chair of the government operations committee of the senate no later than January 15 of each year for review.
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