It is the intent of the general assembly that:
(1) The current members of the registry of election finance and the ethics commission shall remain members of each respective entity and shall comprise the bureau of ethics and campaign finance created by this chapter until the expiration of their terms or resignation;
(2) The executive director of the registry of election finance, on June 30, 2009, shall be the initial executive director of the bureau of ethics and campaign finance;
(3)
(A) From July 1, 2009, through and including August 10, 2009, the bureau of ethics and campaign finance is authorized to undertake actions necessary on behalf of the Tennessee ethics commission and the Tennessee registry of election finance to effectuate the transition of such entities into divisions of the bureau;
(B) Staff positions of the Tennessee ethics commission as of June 30, 2009, shall be transferred to the bureau of ethics and campaign finance through and including August 10, 2009; provided, however, that the bureau of ethics and campaign finance shall reclassify the position of the executive director of the Tennessee ethics commission. With the approval of the bureau, the executive director of the bureau may reclassify or eliminate staff positions of the ethics commission after August 10, 2009, as the executive director deems necessary for the efficient and effective operations of the bureau. No vacant staff position within the bureau shall be filled from July 1, 2009, through August 10, 2009;
(4) All rules of the registry of election finance and the ethics commission in effect on June 30, 2009, shall remain in full force and effect as rules of the bureau of ethics and campaign finance until modified or repealed; and
(5) The registry of election finance and ethics commission shall be audited in conjunction with the audit of the bureau of ethics and campaign finance by the comptroller of the treasury for purposes of title 4, chapter 29.
