Tennessee § 68-24-601 - Board created — Membership — Expenses — Officers — Meetings.

§ 68-24-601. Board created — Membership — Expenses — Officers — Meetings.

There is created the board of alcohol and drug abuse counselors. The board shall consist of five (5) members who are residents of this state, and who shall be appointed by the governor. Initial appointments to the board shall be as follows: two (2) nationally certified master alcohol and drug abuse counselors licensed by the department of health shall serve for terms of one (1) year and four (4) years respectively; one (1) person, who is not directly or indirectly engaged in the alcohol and drug abuse profession shall serve for a term of two (2) years; and two (2) nationally certified alcohol and drug abuse counselors licensed by the department of health shall serve for terms of four (4) years and five (5) years respectively. Members of the board may be appointed from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested alcohol and drug abuse counseling groups including, but not limited to, the Tennessee chapter of the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors. In making appointments to the board, the governor shall consult with interested alcohol and drug abuse counseling groups including, but not limited to, the organizations listed in subdivision (b)(3)(A) to determine qualified persons to fill the positions. All board members, except the member who is not directly or indirectly engaged in the alcohol and drug abuse counseling profession, shall be duly licensed or eligible to be licensed by the board. Subsequent appointees to the board shall possess the professional qualifications required by their predecessors as required by this part and shall be appointed to five-year terms. Members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. Any vacancy occurring on the board shall be filled by the governor for the balance of the unexpired term. A board member who has served a five-year term is not eligible for reappointment during the one-year period following the appointment of the member's successor. In making appointments to the board, the governor shall strive to ensure that at least one (1) person serving on the board is sixty (60) years of age or older and that at least one (1) person serving on the board is a member of a racial minority. In making appointments to the board, the governor shall ensure that at least two (2) of the members are females. For each day engaged in business of the board, members shall receive fifty dollars ($50.00) as compensation and shall also receive actual expenses to be paid in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations promulgated by the commissioner of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter. The members of the board shall annually elect a chair and secretary. The board shall meet as frequently as necessary to implement this part. Three (3) or more members of the board constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting board business. For administrative purposes, the board shall be attached to the division of health related boards as defined in § 63-1-102, referred to as the “division” in this part. Acts 1997, ch. 453, § 2; T.C.A. § 68-24-604 ; Acts 2015, ch. 6, § 3. Code Commission Notes. Former § 68-24-604 was transferred to § 68-24-601 by authority of the code commission in 2011. Compiler's Notes. The board of alcohol and drug abuse counselors, created by this section, terminates June 30, 2025. See §§ 4-29-112 , 4-29-246 . Acts 1997, ch. 453, § 9 provided that nothing in this part shall be construed as affecting the operation of Alcoholics Anonymous or any similar organization involving self-help activities by and on behalf of individuals with alcohol or other substance abuse problems. For an Order transferring the bureau of alcohol and drug abuse services from the department of health to the department of mental health and developmental disabilities, except for functions related to the licensing of alcohol and drug abuse counselors, see Executive Order No. 44 (February 23, 2007). Former §§ 68-24-601 — 68-24-603 (Acts 1989, ch. 513, § 4; 1993, ch. 234, § 9; 1996, ch. 631, § 1), concerning licensing of alcohol and drug abuse counselors, were repealed by Acts 1997, ch. 453, § 1, effective January 1, 1998. That act enacted new provisions concerning the board of alcohol and drug abuse counselors, which took effect January 1, 1998, and which have been compiled in this part as §§ 68-24-604 — 68-24-609 (now §§ 68-24-101 — 68-24-606 ). Amendments. The 2015 amendment rewrote (b)(3), which read: “The Tennessee chapter of the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors may submit a list of at least three (3) nominees for each appointment or vacancy to be filled and the governor may make the appointment from such list.” Effective Dates. Acts 2015, ch. 6, § 4. March 19, 2015.