70-1-201 - Creation Appointment of members Terms.
70-1-201. Creation Appointment of members Terms.
(a) An independent and separate administrative board of conservation for game, fish and wildlife of the state is created, to be known and referred to as the wildlife resources commission and sometimes referred to as the commission in this part, to consist of the commissioner of environment and conservation, the commissioner of agriculture and eleven (11) citizens of the state, which citizens shall be well informed on the subject of the conservation of game animals, birds and fish within the state. Nine (9) of these citizens shall be appointed by the governor, one (1) shall be appointed by the speaker of the senate, and one (1) shall be appointed by the speaker of the house, each to be appointed within the period provided in this section. In making appointments to the wildlife resources commission, the governor shall strive to ensure that at least one (1) person serving on the commission is sixty (60) years of age or older and that at least one (1) person serving on the commission is a member of a racial minority. At least two (2) people serving on the commission shall be female.
(b) (1) Each member appointed by the governor shall be confirmed by the house conservation and environment committee and the senate environment, conservation and tourism committee and by joint resolution of the general assembly prior to beginning a term of office.
(2) If the general assembly is not in session at the time a member is appointed by the governor to fill a vacancy resulting from the expiration of the term of a member of the commission appointed by the governor, the member of the commission whose term has expired shall serve until a new appointee is confirmed as provided in subdivision (b)(1).
(c) Three (3) of the members appointed by the governor shall be appointed from each grand division of the state. In the original appointments one (1) member from each grand division was appointed to serve for a period of two (2) years; one (1) member from each grand division to serve for a period of four (4) years and one (1) member from each grand division to serve for a period of six (6) years. Upon the expiration of the term of office of the governor-appointed members of the commission, their successors in office shall be appointed in like manner to serve for a full period of six (6) years. Not more than one (1) member of the commission shall be appointed from any one (1) county.
(d) The two (2) members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the speaker of the senate shall hold no geographical representation. In the original appointments of speaker-appointed members, the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one (1) member to an initial term of six (6) years. The speaker of the senate shall appoint one (1) member to an initial term of two (2) years. Upon the expiration of the term of office of the speaker-appointed members of the commission, their successors in office shall be appointed in like manner to serve for a full period of six (6) years. Not more than one (1) member of the commission shall be appointed from any one (1) county.
(e) The terms of the new members appointed by the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the speaker of the senate to the commission shall commence March 1; provided, that the new members are properly confirmed.
[Acts 1949, ch. 50, § 1; C. Supp. 1950, § 5178.2 (Williams, § 5120.19); modified; 1959, ch. 145, § 1; 1971, ch. 197, § 1; Acts 1974, ch. 481, § 21; 1978, ch. 656, §§ 1, 2; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 51-101; Acts 1987, ch. 206, §§ 1, 2; 1988, ch. 591, §§ 1-3; 1988, ch. 1013, § 73; 1995, ch. 261, § 1; 1998, ch. 605, § 9; 2007, ch. 9, §§ 1, 2.]