Senate passes bill to vacate Tennessee State University Board of Trustees
The bill says the board would have to be vacated by June 30.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The Tennessee Senate adopted amendment one and passed SB 1596 which would require the state university board of trustees for Tennessee State University (TSU) to be “vacated” and “reconstituted.”
The bill says the board would have to be vacated by June 30 and would need to be reconstituted to have 10 members, nine of which would be voting and one would have to be a nonvoting member.
According to the amendment, the board would need the following:
- Ten members, nine of which would be voting and one would be a nonvoting member
- The nonvoting member would have to be a student representative and must be appointed by the state university board
- Six of the voting members would need to be residents of the state of Tennessee
- Eight of the 10 members must be appointed by the governor
- At least three of the members appointed by the governor must be alumni of TSU
- One voting member must be a faculty member of TSU
In response to the decision of the senate, TSU responded with the following statement:
“We are disappointed by the Senate vote today. The Senate and House versions of the TSU Sunset legislation differ at this time, and we look forward to continuing to work with legislators in the House and the Senate to achieve compromise sunset legislation, with a push to secure a clean extension of the TSU Board of Trustees. The extension of the Board would avoid disruption of TSU governance during a critical time for the University and, most importantly, for our students. TSU will continue to push for more favorable legislation that would better serve our university family.”
Senate Republican leaders said if the House doesn’t pass their version of the bill, then the whole board will be vacated on July 1 due to existing laws and the school would have no board from July 1 to Jan. 1
“The Senate is resolute in its position,” Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, said. “Failure to pass that bill in the form that we think is the best will result in the termination completely.”
“It’s time for the people in this building to put egos and disputes aside, and act like grown-ups, and take responsibility for ensuring that TSU is successful going forward,” said Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville.
The Tennessee House placed the bill, HB 1739, on the regular calendar for March 28.
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