2023 Tennessee Code › Title 43 - AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE (§§ 43-1-101 — 43-40-105) › Chapter 14 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 43-14-101 — 43-14-308) › Part 2 - SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS LAW (§§ 43-14-201 — 43-14-219) › Section 43-14-203 - Tennessee soil and water conservation commission - Members - Powers and duties

(a)
There is established the Tennessee soil and water conservation commission to perform the functions conferred upon it in this part.
(b)
(1)
The commission consists of seven (7) members appointed by the governor and four (4) ex officio members.
(2)
The seven (7) members appointed by the governor include:
(A)
Two (2) members from the eastern grand division, one (1) of whom must be a farmer or agricultural industry representative and one (1) of whom must be a supervisor;
(B)
Two (2) members from the middle grand division, one (1) of whom must be a farmer or agricultural industry representative and one (1) of whom must be a supervisor;
(C)
Two (2) members from the western grand division, one (1) of whom must be a farmer or agricultural industry representative and one (1) of whom must be a supervisor; and
(D)
One (1) member who is a supervisor from the state at large.
(3)
(A)
The following persons serve as ex officio members of the commission and are voting members:
(i)
The senior vice president and senior vice chancellor of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, or the senior vice president and senior vice chancellor's designee;
(ii)
The commissioner of agriculture, or the commissioner's designee;
(iii)
The commissioner of environment and conservation, or the commissioner's designee; and
(iv)
The elected president of the Tennessee association of conservation districts, or the president's designee.
(B)
An ex officio member holds office so long as the member retains the office by virtue of which such member is serving on the commission.
(c)
(1)
The members of the state soil conservation committee on April 22, 2021 shall continue to serve as members of the commission until the expiration of their terms.
(2)
After the expiration of the terms of office pursuant to subdivision (c)(1), all members appointed to the commission serve for a term of three (3) years.
(d)
Whenever a vacancy on the commission exists, the governor shall appoint a member for the remainder of the unexpired term. In making appointments to the commission, the governor shall strive to ensure that at least one (1) person appointed to serve on the commission is sixty (60) years of age or older and that at least one (1) person appointed to serve on the commission is a member of a racial minority. A member appointed as a supervisor member of the commission who ceases to hold the position of supervisor shall continue to serve on the commission until the expiration of such member's term.
(e)
The commission shall keep a record of its official actions and may perform acts, hold public hearings, and promulgate rules that are necessary for the execution of its functions under this part.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 203, s 2, eff. 4/22/2021.
Acts 1939, ch. 197, § 4; C. Supp. 1950, § 552.4 (Williams, § 552.34); Acts 1957, ch. 158, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 43-1503; Acts 1988, ch. 1013, § 14.