(a) There is established a Tennessee community resource board (TCRB) composed of seventeen (17) members. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint a member of the house of representatives to serve on the TCRB and the speaker of the senate shall appoint a member of the senate to serve on the TCRB. Members of the general assembly who serve on the TCRB shall receive no additional compensation for their services, but shall receive compensation for expenses pursuant to § 3-1-106. The remaining members shall be appointed jointly by the commissioner and the chair. Five (5) members shall be appointed from each grand division of the state. Members shall serve terms of three (3) years. Members of the TCRB shall, upon expiration of their terms of office, be eligible for reappointment to successive terms. In making appointments to the board, the commissioner and the chair shall strive to ensure that at least one (1) person serving on the TCRB is sixty (60) years of age or older and that at least one (1) person serving on the TCRB is a member of a racial minority. Members shall have served in a volunteer capacity in corrections, in probation or parole, or in an academic environment in the field of criminal justice or other related field. Vacancies shall be filled by the TCRB; provided, that the person filling the vacancy shall receive the written approval of the commissioner and chair.

(b) The TCRB shall serve both the department and the board. The purpose of the TCRB shall be to:

(1) Coordinate with and assist the department and the board in developing and utilizing volunteer resources in assisting parolees, probationers and inmates in reintegrating into society as productive, law-abiding citizens;

(2) Coordinate with and assist the department and the board in developing policies and procedures governing the utilization of volunteers;

(3) Coordinate a network of local parole, probation and institutional community resource boards on matters of statewide impact;

(4) Advise the department and the board on matters of public interest and concern;

(5) Assist the department and the board in accomplishing their missions;

(6) Review and recommend programs having statewide impact involving volunteers; and

(7) Oversee projects when appropriate.

(c) Local parole, probation and prison institution community resource boards may be established. The purpose of these local boards is to cooperate with local probation and parole offices and correctional institutions to:

(1) Develop a program plan for utilizing volunteers;

(2) Establish specific goals for utilizing volunteers;

(3) Establish performance measures for determining that goals are met; and

(4) Collect data on the cost of using volunteers and the cost benefits to the local office or institution.

(d) Local volunteer resource boards shall report semiannually to the TCRB on their program plans, goals and performance measures.