Bill > SB2473

This bill vacates the current boards of commissioners for metropolitan and regional airport authorities in Tennessee and reconstitutes them with new governing bodies, aiming to improve their oversight and operations. For metropolitan and regional airports, a new nine-member board of commissioners will be established, with appointments made by the Speaker of the House, Speaker of the Senate, the Governor, and the executive officer of the creating municipality, ensuring representation from the airport's county, surrounding region, and the municipality itself, with specific qualifications for commissioners including no financial interest in airport operations and not being an employee of the creating municipality. For regional airport authorities specifically, a twelve-member board will be created with a more complex appointment structure involving various state and local officials, as well as representatives from participating municipalities and counties, including those in other states, to ensure broader representation. The bill also outlines staggered initial terms for these new commissioners, with all subsequent terms being four years, and mandates that appointments consider geographic and demographic representation, including at least one female commissioner, and that commissioners possess strong character and experience in fields like engineering, law, business, public safety, aviation, or finance. Furthermore, airport authorities will be required to submit quarterly reports on their activities and plans to various government officials and will be responsible for the costs of state audits of their finances. The bill also includes provisions to protect existing employee benefits and ensures that if any part of the act is found invalid, the rest will remain in effect.