Senate Bill 1235 aims to amend various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning state entities, specifically addressing the composition and membership of boards. The bill introduces a new section in Title 62 and Title 63 that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, ethnicity, or national origin in board membership. It establishes that boards cannot implement race-based policies, including affirmative action or racial quotas, and prohibits the use of aggregated data regarding race for determining board participation. Additionally, the bill allows for private causes of action against boards and their officers for violations, with provisions for damages, including a minimum statutory damage amount of $4,000.

Furthermore, the bill deletes existing legal language across multiple sections that previously required at least one member of a board to be from a racial minority. This change reflects a shift in policy regarding board composition, emphasizing non-discrimination while removing mandates for racial representation. The act is set to take effect immediately upon becoming law, prioritizing public welfare.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 63-3-103(b), 63-3-103, 63-4-102(c), 63-4-102, 63-5-103(d)(2), 63-5-103, 63-6-102(c), 63-6-102, 63-7-202(i), 63-7-202, 63-9-101(a), 63-9-101, 63-10-304(c), 63-10-304, 63-11-102(c)(2), 63-11-102, 63-12-104(c), 63-12-104, 63-13-216(k), 63-13-216, 63-13-318(k), 63-13-318, 63-14-101(b)(3), 63-14-101, 63-16-102(b)(2), 63-16-102, 63-17-104(b)(3), 63-17-104, 63-17-202(b)(2), 63-17-202, 63-19-103(b)(1), 63-19-103, 63-22-101(c)(5), 63-22-101, 63-23-101(b)(6), 63-23-101, 63-24-102(b)(3), 63-24-102, 63-25-106(b), 63-25-106, 63-27-103(f), 63-27-103, 63-28-112(b), 63-28-112, 63-31-103(e), 63-31-103, 68-24-601(b)(6), 68-24-601, 68-29-109(j), 68-29-109, 68-140-303(e)(1), 68-140-303