Section 2-10-203 - Registry of election finance - Creation - Appointments - Qualifications - Administration(a)(1) There is created as a division of the bureau of ethics and campaign finance, as provided in title 4, chapter 55, a Tennessee registry of election finance. The registry shall be composed of six (6) members appointed as provided in this section.(2) Appointments shall be made to reflect the broadest possible representation of Tennessee citizens. Of the six (6) members appointed, at least one (1) shall be a female and one (1) shall be black. However, a black female shall not satisfy the requirement of one (1) female and one (1) black. Each member shall have been a legal resident of this state for five (5) years immediately preceding selection. Members shall be at least thirty (30) years of age, registered voters in Tennessee, not announced candidates for public office, not members of a political party's state executive committee, shall not have been convicted of an election offense, and shall be persons of high ethical standards who have an active interest in promoting fair elections. Gubernatorial appointees shall be subject to confirmation by joint resolution of the general assembly. Such appointees shall have full power to serve until any vote of nonconfirmation.(b) The members of the registry of election finance shall also serve as members of the board of directors of the bureau of ethics and campaign finance.(c) Members of the registry shall be selected for staggered five-year terms as follows:(1) The governor shall appoint two (2) members. One (1) member shall be appointed from a list of three (3) nominees submitted by the state executive committee of the majority party. One (1) member shall be appointed from a list of three (3) nominees submitted by the state executive committee of the minority party. The governor's solicitations and the replies shall be public records. The governor shall give due consideration to such nominations. The governor may request a second list of nominees; provided, however, no nominees from the original list of nominees may appear on the second list of nominees.(2) The senate shall appoint two (2) members, with one (1) member to be chosen by the members of the senate democratic caucus and one (1) member to be chosen by the members of the senate republican caucus. The registry is required to notify in writing the appropriate caucus and speaker of the senate within a reasonable time upon the expiration of a member's term or a vacancy occurring. If either caucus fails to appoint a member within sixty (60) days after receiving written notice of a vacancy from the registry or after receiving written notice of the expiration of a term from the registry, the speaker of the senate shall appoint a democrat or republican, as applicable, to fill the vacancy or make the appointment; and(3) The house of representatives shall appoint two (2) members, with one (1) member to be chosen by the members of the house of representatives democratic caucus and one (1) member to be chosen by the members of the house of representatives republican caucus. The registry is required to notify in writing the appropriate caucus and speaker of the house of representatives within a reasonable time upon the expiration of a member's term or a vacancy occurring. If either caucus fails to appoint a member within sixty (60) days after receiving written notice of a vacancy from the registry or after receiving written notice of the expiration of a term from the registry, the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint a democrat or republican, as applicable, to fill the vacancy or make the appointment.(d) In the event of a vacancy, the respective appointing authority shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.(e) The registry shall elect a chair from among its appointed membership. The chair shall serve in that capacity for one (1) year and shall be eligible for reelection. The chair shall preside at all meetings and shall have all the powers and privileges of the other members.(f) The registry shall fix the place and time of its regular meetings by order duly recorded in its minutes. No action shall be taken without a quorum present. Special meetings shall be called by the chair on the chair's initiative or on the written request of four (4) members. Members shall receive seven (7) days' written notice of a special meeting, and the notice shall specify the purpose, time and place of the meeting, and no other matters may be considered, without a specific waiver by all the members.(g) The members of the registry shall receive no compensation; provided, that each member of the registry shall be eligible for reimbursement for expenses and mileage in accordance with the regulations promulgated by the commissioner of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.(h) No member of the registry or such member's immediate family, as defined in § 3-6-301, shall, during registry membership:(1) Be allowed to hold or qualify for elective office to any state or local public office, as defined in § 2-10-102;(2) Be an employee of the state or any political subdivision of the state;(3) Be an officer of any political party or political committee;(4) Permit such person's name to be used or make campaign contributions in support of or in opposition to any candidate or proposition, except that a member's immediate family may make campaign contributions in support of or in opposition to any candidate or proposition;(5) Participate in any way in any election campaign;(6) Lobby or employ a lobbyist; or(7) Be employed by any elected officeholder, either in an official capacity or as an individual, or be employed by any business in which an elected officeholder has any direct input concerning employment decisions.(i) An incumbent member of the registry may seek votes for confirmation of the member's appointment to the registry; provided, that the member shall comply with subsection (h).(j) Subsection (h) is applicable for one (1) year subsequent to the removal, vacancy, or termination of the term of office of a member of the registry.(k)(1) Every member of the registry of election finance shall, before they proceed to business, take an oath or affirmation to support the constitution of this state and of the United States and the laws of this state and also the following oath: "I ______________ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that as a member of this registry of election finance, I will, in all matters, vote without favor, affection, partiality, or prejudice; and that I will not propose or assent to any action, measure, or resolution which shall appear to me to be contrary to law."
(2) Unless otherwise provided by law, any member of the registry who violates the oath of office for that position or participates in any of the activities prohibited by this chapter commits a Class A misdemeanor. If a sworn allegation is made that a member has violated the oath of office for the member's position or has participated in any of the activities prohibited by this chapter, then upon a unanimous vote of the remaining members, the member against whom the sworn allegation is made may be suspended from the registry for such purposes and for such times as the remaining members shall unanimously determine, but no suspension shall extend beyond final disposition of the sworn allegation. The accused member shall not participate in the suspension vote. If a member of the registry is found guilty of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a violation of the oath of office for the member's position or participates in any of the activities prohibited by this chapter, then that member shall be deemed to be removed from office.(l) Each regular meeting agenda must be published on the registry's website at least five (5) business days prior to the date of the meeting.Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1087, Secs.s 14, s 30 eff. 7/1/2022.Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1087, Sec.s 2, eff. 5/27/2022 and s 15 eff. 7/1/2022.Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 78, s 1, eff. 7/1/2019.Acts 1989, ch. 585, § 3; 1998, ch. 1062, § 1; 1998, ch. 1082, § 1; 1999, ch. 119, § 1; 2002, ch. 470, § 3; 2006 (1st Ex. Sess.), ch. 1, §§ 21, 22, 24, 25; 2009 , ch. 556, §§ 7-9.