2023 Tennessee Code › Title 71 - WELFARE (§§ 71-1-101 — 71-7-103) › Chapter 5 - PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR POOR PERSONS (§§ 71-5-NEW — 71-5-2604) › Part 12 - FAMILIES FIRST COUNCILS (§§ 71-5-1201 — 71-5-1204) › Section 71-5-1201 - Families first community advisory board

(a)
(1)
There is created a families first community advisory board to:
(A)
Approve the department's retention of a research partner or partners to assist in the research and evaluation of the Tennessee opportunity pilot program created by this part;
(B)
Review and approve the selection of the Tennessee opportunity pilot program recipients of planning grants and implementation grants;
(C)
Submit a final report to the general assembly no later than December 31, 2026. The final report must be approved by a majority vote of the advisory board's total membership and must include, at a minimum:
(i)
Findings from the Tennessee opportunity pilots and the services provided through each pilot;
(ii)
Recommendations for future TANF program spending in this state; and
(iii)
Suggested legislation to support the recommendations described in subdivision (a)(1)(C)(ii);
(D)
Provide input regarding the effectiveness of existing families first and two-generation program policies and grant programs; and
(E)
Make recommendations regarding the development of new or revised policies to enhance the families first and two-generation programs.
(2)
An advisory board member appointed in accordance with subdivision (b)(6) or (b)(7) shall not vote on matters regarding the review and approval of Tennessee opportunity pilot program recipients of planning grants and implementation grants under subdivision (a)(1)(B), or any other matter involving the review and approval of recipients of monetary awards or grants.
(b)
The advisory board is composed of no more than twenty-one (21) members as follows:
(1)
The commissioner of human services, who shall serve as chair and convener;
(2)
The commissioner of labor and workforce development, or the commissioner's designee;
(3)
The commissioner of economic and community development, or the commissioner's designee;
(4)
The commissioner of education, or the commissioner's designee;
(5)
The commissioner of health, or the commissioner's designee;
(6)
Two (2) members of the senate to be appointed by the speaker of the senate;
(7)
Two (2) members of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(8)
Three (3) representatives from businesses or business groups in this state, two (2) of whom are to be appointed by the speaker of the senate and one (1) of whom is to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(9)
Three (3) representatives from nonprofits in this state with expertise about services that support economic advancement for low income Tennesseans, one (1) of whom is to be appointed by the speaker of the senate and two (2) of whom are to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and
(10)
No more than six (6) members to be appointed by the commissioner of human services. A member appointed under this subdivision (b)(10) must be a representative of local government, a faith-based organization, a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (
29 U.S.C. § 3101
et seq.) partner, or a current or former recipient of families first or two-generation program assistance.
(c)
Members of the families first community advisory board serve without compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations promulgated by the commissioner of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.
(d)
Vacancies among the members of the families first community advisory board must be filled in the same manner as in the original selection of members.
(e)
The speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall strive to ensure that members appointed to the families first community advisory board reflect the racial, sex, geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity of the state.
(f)
The commissioner of human services must call the first meeting of the families first community advisory board no later than September 1, 2021, at which time the members shall elect a vice chair from among the members appointed pursuant to subdivisions (b)(6)-(10).
(g)
A majority of the members of the advisory board constitutes a quorum for the purpose of meeting and conducting business. The families first community advisory board shall meet at least monthly until all implementation grant awards are made, and at least quarterly thereafter. The chair may call special meetings whenever necessary for the transaction of business. The chair shall notify each member of the families first community advisory board of any special meeting at least five (5) days before the time fixed for the special meeting. A majority of the members of the families first community advisory board may petition the chair to call a special meeting, in which case the chair must call a special meeting.
(h)
The families first community advisory board may conduct regular or special meetings by conference call or video conference in accordance with the requirements of §
8-44-108
.
(i)
The families first community advisory board shall retain a highly capable research and evaluation partner or partners to evaluate each pilot program; regularly gather and present the research and data to pilot program leaders and families first community advisory board members to aid continuous improvement throughout each pilot program; and produce regular reports and the final report described in subdivision (a)(1)(C).
(j)
The chair of the families first community advisory board may call on appropriate state agencies for reasonable assistance in the work of the families first community advisory board.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 51, Secs.s1, s2 eff. 3/21/2023.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 515, s 4, eff. 7/1/2021.
Acts 1996, ch. 950, § 27.