Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9.

ON APRIL 12, 2022, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2410, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to establish an institute of American civics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, which will operate as an academic unit within the University and provide programming addressing American civics and related topics for the University of Tennessee system. The full text of this amendment specifies the purpose of the institute. This amendment authorizes the institute to: (1) Hire faculty and staff; (2) Enroll students; (3) Develop and offer courses in new undergraduate major and minor programs; (4) Offer general education and honors courses; (5) Provide and facilitate internships and other relevant experiences for students and the general public; (6) Hold events; and (7) Take other actions as appropriate, subject to the supervision of the chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the general supervision of the president of the University of Tennessee system. This amendment requires the president of the University of Tennessee, in consultation with the governor, the speaker of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives, to appoint 13 members to serve on a board of fellows for the institute. The full text of this amendment describes the qualifications for membership on the board of fellows and various organizational and procedural requirements for the board of fellows. The board of fellows will be required to advise the director of the institute on matters related to the institute. This amendment requires the board of fellows to conduct a national search and transmit to the chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville a list of finalists for the position of director. The chancellor must appoint the director from the list of finalists provided by the board of fellows. The director may be removed by and must report to the chancellor. The director will make all other faculty and staff hiring decisions for the institute. Funds appropriated to the institute must not supplant any existing state funding or private or external donations to the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy or to the University of Tennessee. Appropriated funds and all private and external donations to the institute may only be used for the direct operation of the institute. This amendment requires the president of the University of Tennessee, in consultation with the director of the institute, the board of fellows, and the chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to submit an annual report concerning the institute to the governor, the speaker of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chairs of the finance committees of the senate and house of representatives.