(a) There is established the Tennessee soil and water conservation commission to perform the functions conferred upon it in this part.
Terms Used In Tennessee Code 43-14-203
Agricultural industry representative: means any person:(A) Engaged in a business that provides a service to, or good for, farmers engaged in production agriculture. See Tennessee Code 43-14-202
Agriculture: means :(i) The land, buildings and machinery used in the commercial production of farm products and nursery stock. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
Representative: when applied to those who represent a decedent, includes executors and administrators, unless the context implies heirs and distributees. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
Supervisor: means a member of the governing body of a district, elected or appointed pursuant to this part. See Tennessee Code 43-14-202
Tennessee association of conservation districts: means the nonprofit organization consisting of the ninety-five (95) soil and water conservation districts in this state, with the mission of assisting the districts with the conservation of soil, water, and other natural resources through education, leadership, and advocacy. See Tennessee Code 43-14-202
(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.
