(a) The council for the deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing shall consist of eighteen (18) members and shall be composed as follows: the commissioners of education, human services, health, mental health and substance abuse, and safety or their designees, the assistant commissioner of rehabilitation services or the assistant commissioner's designee, a representative of the Tennessee public utility commission, a representative of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the president of the Tennessee Association of the Deaf, two (2) deaf consumer representatives appointed by the governor, one (1) president of a Hearing Loss Association of America chapter, two (2) hard of hearing consumer representatives appointed by the governor, the president of the Tennessee Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, the president of the Tennessee Hands & Voices, one (1) deaf-blind representative who may be appointed by the governor from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested deaf-blind groups including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Organization of the Deaf-Blind and the Tennessee Deaf-Blind Association, and one (1) minority representative who may be appointed by the governor from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested minority deaf advocate groups including, but not limited to, chapters of the Tennessee Black Deaf Advocates. In appointing the deaf-blind representative and the minority representative to the council as provided in this subsection (a), the governor shall consult with interested deaf-blind and minority deaf advocate groups to determine qualified persons to fill the positions.

(b) The deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing representatives shall serve terms of three (3) years, except that to ensure staggered terms, the governor shall designate that two (2) of the six (6) members initially appointed to serve a one-year term, two (2) to serve two-year terms, and two (2) to serve three-year terms. Any position that becomes vacant prior to the expiration of a full term shall be filled only for the period of the unexpired term. In making appointments to the council for the deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing, the governor shall strive to ensure that at least one (1) person appointed to serve on the council is sixty (60) years of age or older.

(c)

(1) The commissioner of education shall call the first meeting of the council, at which time, and annually thereafter, the members shall elect a chair. Thereafter, the council shall meet at the call of the chair, but at least quarterly.

(2)

(A) Council members shall attend at least fifty percent (50%) of the required quarterly meetings.

(B) Any council member who fails to attend meetings as required in subdivision (c)(2)(A) shall be removed as a member by the appointing authority.

(d) Members of the council shall receive no compensation for their services other than reimbursement for traveling and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. All reimbursement for travel expenses shall be in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations as promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.