71-4-2103 - Members Terms Meetings Reimbursement for expenses.
71-4-2103. Members Terms Meetings Reimbursement for expenses.
(a) The council for the deaf and hard of hearing shall consist of eleven (11) members and shall be composed as follows: the commissioners of education, human services, mental health and developmental disabilities, or their designees, the assistant commissioner of rehabilitation services or the assistant commissioner's designee, the president of Tennessee Association of the Deaf, the president of the Tennessee Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, two (2) members to be appointed by the governor and three (3) deaf and hard of hearing consumer representatives appointed by the governor from a list of six (6) nominees submitted by the Tennessee Association of the Deaf.
(b) The deaf and hard of hearing consumer representatives shall serve terms of three (3) years, except that to ensure staggered terms, the governor shall designate one (1) of the three (3) members initially appointed to serve one (1) year, one (1) to serve two (2) years, and one (1) to serve three (3) years. Any position that becomes vacant prior to the expiration of a full term shall be filled only for the period of the unexpired term. In making appointments to the council for the deaf and hard of hearing, the governor shall strive to ensure that at least one (1) person appointed to serve on the council is sixty (60) years of age or older and that at least one (1) person appointed to serve on the council is a member of a racial minority.
(c) The commissioner of education shall call the first meeting of the council, at which time, and annually, the members shall elect a chair. Thereafter, the council will meet at the call of the chair.
(d) Members of the council shall receive no compensation for their services other than reimbursement for traveling and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. All reimbursement for travel expenses shall be in accordance with the provisions of the comprehensive travel regulations as promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.
[Acts 1978, ch. 889, § 3; 1979, ch. 106, § 1; T.C.A., §§ 14-2503, 14-18-103; Acts 1987, ch. 6, § 4; 1988, ch. 1013, § 75; 2001, ch. 174, § 15.]