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State Senate - State of Tennessee
Legislative Press Release
Government Operations Committee reviews objectives to loosen grip of special interest groups and lobbyists on state’s boards and commissions
The Senate Government Operations Committee is currently considering action to loosen the grip of special interest groups and lobbyists over the various boards and commissions in Tennessee as they are reviewed by the panel in their normal sunset review process. Several members of the committee have expressed serious concerns about repeated language in Tennessee law that requires appointing authorities to select a candidate from special interest organizations.
The governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house are most commonly responsible for naming those who serve on the approximately 250 boards and commissions currently in operation in the state. The boards cover a wide variety of matters and involve oversight for various professions in the state from real estate and health care to athletic training and funeral homes. Special interest groups over the years have lobbied to make sure that their organizations are included in the language of the law by requiring that appointments are made from members of their group.
One of the key concerns is that many qualified citizens are eliminated from consideration because they may not be members of an organization. This is especially the case in professional organizations, some of which have a small percentage of members who are licensed within that profession.
The Government Operations Committee is considering two other objectives in deliberations regarding board and commission members' appointments besides removing the special interest designation. One would require board members to be Tennessee citizens, while the other would better define a conflict of interest exclusion, including a one-year buffer period before lobbyists can be on a board if they have represented clients within that profession or subject matter.
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