HB 421

PETITION FOR REINSTATEMENT This bill authorizes a person who becomes ineligible to serve as a utility district commissioner for failing to timely meet the training and continuing education requirements set forth under existing law to file a petition for reinstatement of the person's eligibility to serve as a utility district commissioner with the Tennessee board of utility regulation. Ho w ever, such a person may not file a petition for reinstatement until after the completion of the term of office for which the person has failed to meet the required training and continuing education requirements that caused the person's ineligibility to se r ve. This bill requires the board to conduct an informal hearing on the petition and authorizes the board to issue an order establishing the terms and conditions for the reinstatement of eligibility. Under this bill, an order (i) must require the petitio ner to obtain 12 hours of training and continuing education within one year of the date of the order, (ii) must include an effective date for eligibility reinstatement, and (iii) may include any other terms and conditions for reinstatement deemed appropri a te by the board. REDUCTION IN HOURLY TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT Present law requires all members of a municipal utility board of commissioners to, within one year of initial appointment or election to such board or within one year of reappointment or reelection to such board, attend a minimum of 12 hours of training and continuing education in one or more of the subjects listed under existing law. This bill lowers the minimum number of hours from 12 to six. Similarly, pesent law req u ires a utility district commissioner to attend a minimum of 12 hours of training and continuing education in one or more of the subjects listed under existing law. This bill, likewise, lowers the minimum number of hours from 12 to six. ON FEBRUARY 24, 2 025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 380, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 removes the provisions lowering the minimum number of hours of initial training and continuing education from 12 to six and, instead, lowers the minimum number of h ours of such training from 12 to six in each continuing education period following the initial 12 hours of initial training and continuing education .