Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee SB2531: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 41, relative to corrections.
Status: Chaptered, May 26, 2026
Fiscal Summary STATE GOVERNMENTEXPENDITURESGeneral FundFY26-27$198,700FY27-28 & Subsequent Years$194,500Total Positions Required: 1 Bill Summary This bill creates the state family advisory board ("board") to be composed of nine members who must all be family members of individuals currently incarcerated in this state. The governor, the speaker of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives must each appoint three members, with each member coming from a different grand division in this state. In making the initial appointments, this bill requires staggered terms. Following the expiration of initial terms, all members serve three-year terms that begin on January 1 and end on December 31 of each applicable year. Additionally, members of the board are eligible for reappointment. This bill requires vacancies occurring on the board before the expiration of a term by reason of death, resignation, removal, or another reason to be filled in the same manner as the regular appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term. An appointed member of the board serves in such capacity until the expiration of the term to which the member was appointed and until the member's successor is duly appointed and qualified. The governor and the speakers of the senate and house of representatives must remove a member of the board whom the respective appointing authority appointed for cause. This bill requires the members to elect one member of the board to serve as the chair for a term of one year beginning January 1 of the appropriate year. The chair must direct the operation of the board. The board may designate one of its members to act as chair during the absence or incapacity of the chair, and when so acting, the member so designated has and performs all the powers and duties of the chair of the board. POWER AND AUTH
What the bill says
From the amended text:
Amendment No. 4 to SB2531 Hatcher Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 2531 House Bill No. 2111* by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 41, Chapter 1, is amended by adding the following as a new part: 41-1-301. Part definitions. As used in this part: (1) "Board" means the state families of incarcerated individuals advisory board; (2) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of correction; (3) "Contractor" means an entity, public or private, entering a contractual agreement with the commissioner of correction or a political subdivision of this state to provide correctional services, as defined in § 41-24-102(2)(F), to inmates under the custody of the department; (4) "Department" means the department of correction; and (5) "Family member" means a grandparent, parent, sibling, spouse or domestic partner, child, aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew, grandchild, or another person related to an individual by blood, adoption, marriage, or a fostering relationship. 41-1-302. State families of incarcerated individuals advisory board established - Board composition - Initial appointments - Removal of members. (a) There is created the state families of incarcerated individuals advisory board. SA1097 (b) The board is autonomous in structure and has the authority to perform all administrative functions necessary to carry out its duties. In all respects, the board is separate …