HB3418 
Filed for intro on 02/09/2004

HOUSE BILL 3418
By Kernell
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter
34, relative to the Tennessee Indian commission.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-34-104, is amended by deleting
subsections (a) and (b) in their entirety and by substituting instead the following:

(a) The Tennessee commission of Indian affairs shall consist of at least seven (7) members as follows:
	(1) One (1) member from each of the four (4) metropolitan areas: Shelby,
Davidson, Knox and Hamilton, and counties contiguous thereto;
	(2) One (1) member from each of the three (3) grand divisions of the state.
Members representing a grand division shall not be from or represent a metropolitan area or a county contiguous thereto; and
(3) One (1) member from each Native American Indian nation or tribe located
within Tennessee, and recognized by the state per recognition guidelines established by the commission.

(b)
	(1) The Tennessee Native American convention shall submit a list of not less
than two (2) names for each position on the commission to be appointed.
	(2) Persons participating in an election conducted by the Tennessee Native
American convention shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age and shall provide proof of their county of residence. A voter may only vote for a candidate running to represent the voter's county of residency. Proof of having registered to vote with the county election commission shall not be a requirement to participate in such  elections.
	(3) No other office, seat, position or post shall be the direct or indirect result of
running for election as a commissioner nominee.
	(4) Accompanying each nominee's name submitted shall be a resume, including the nominee's educational background, work history, heritage, description of why the nominee would be a suitable commissioner and the democratic process and results that led to the nomination. Social security numbers and other uniquely personal information shall be redacted from any resume submitted pursuant to this section.
	(5) Preference in selection of at least five (5) Indian commissioners shall be given to Native American Indians, i.e., persons having origins in any of the original peoples of North America, and who maintain cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition.
	(6) Each member of the commission of Indian affairs shall be a resident of
Tennessee.

SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-34-105, is amended by deleting
subsection (b) in its entirety and by substituting instead the following:
(b) Quarterly commission meetings shall be held on Saturdays. The locations of
the quarterly meetings shall rotate among the cities of Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. Other meetings may be held as need dictates. The chairperson of the commission can call not more than two (2) emergency meetings in a calendar year. At least five (5) days notice of each emergency meeting shall be given to each commissioner.

SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-34-105, is further amended by
deleting subsection (i) in its entirety and by substituting instead the following:
(i) Robert's Rules of Order shall govern meetings of the commission when not in
conflict with specific bylaws or other rules as may be adopted by the commission.

SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-34-105, is further amended by
adding a new subsection thereto, as follows:
(n) The term of any member who misses two (2) consecutive meetings of the
commission without good cause may be terminated by a majority vote of the remaining members of the commission.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.