Present law requires each member of a county legislative body to (i) complete orientation training provided by the University of Tennessee's county technical assistance service ("CTAS") by no later than 120 days after election or appointment, so long as the member was newly elected or appointed on or after April 12, 2018; and (ii) complete at least seven hours of continuing education training provided or approved by CTAS annually.
Beginning September 1, 2024, this bill revises (ii) above by, providing, instead, that each member of a county legislative body must annually complete at least eight hours of continuing education training at conferences or meetings provided by CTAS. However, this requirement does not apply to the following individuals:
(1) A person appointed to fill a vacancy on a county legislative body until September 1 after the person's appointment;
(2) An incumbent in office on the effective date of this act, until the incumbent is separated from office for any reason and is subsequently elected or appointed to serve as a member of a county legislative body; and
(3) Any commissioner after eight years of service.
This bill authorizes CTAS to provide the training required by this bill in person or by any other means available. Further, this bill requires that the comptroller of the treasury, at least annually, post on its website the name of each member of a legislative body and the hours of training required and completed for each member in compliance with this bill. Additionally, this bill requires a county to pay a supplement of $600, in addition to the commissioner's regular salary, to a commissioner for such county who successfully completes in each year the continuing education training required by this bill. This bill provides that a member of a county legislative body who does not comply with the training requirements is ineligible for election or appointment for the same office until such person completes the required training.
ON APRIL 23, 2024, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2677, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 requires, instead, that each member of a county legislative body complete, annually, at least eight hours of continuing education training at conferences or meetings provided or approved by the University of Tennessee's county technical assistance service. The period for compliance begins on September 1, 2024. The training requirement does not apply to (i) a person appointed to fill a vacancy on a county legislative body until September 1 after the person's appointment; (ii) an incumbent in office prior to April 12, 2018, until the incumbent is separated from office for any reason and is subsequently elected or appointed to serve as a member of a county legislative body; and (iii) any commissioner after eight years of service.
ON APRIL 24, 2024, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 2677 FOR SENATE BILL 2897, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2677, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes:
(1) Authorizes, rather than requires, a county to pay a supplement of $600, in addition to the regular salary of the commissioner, to a commissioner of such county who successfully completes in each year the eight hours of continuing education training that the bill requires for members of a county legislative body; and
(2) Removes language establishing that a member of a county legislative body who does not comply with the training requirements in (1) above is ineligible for election or appointment for the same office until such person completes the required training.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 5-5-113
Amended with HA1081 -- 04/23/2024: 5-5-113
Amended with HA1081, SA1031 -- 04/24/2024: 5-5-113