Bill > SB0720

This bill revises the composition and operations of Tennessee's Board of Ground Water Management, primarily increasing the number of full consecutive terms an appointive member can serve from two to three. Specifically, the bill establishes a five-member board consisting of two ex officio non-voting members (the Commissioner of Environment and Conservation and the Director of Water Resources) and three voting members who are licensed water well drillers and pump installers, with one representative from each of Tennessee's grand divisions (western, middle, and eastern). These three appointive members will be selected by different state officials, serve three-year terms, and must have been actively engaged in well drilling in Tennessee for at least five consecutive years prior to appointment. The bill also introduces three alternate members who can replace appointed members if needed, and expands the board's responsibilities to include reviewing complaints and violations, recommending remedies, reviewing continuing education classes, and making licensure recommendations. The changes aim to enhance the board's effectiveness in managing groundwater-related licensing and regulatory activities, with the new provisions set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0720&ga=114