Tennessee Code Title 33. Mental Health and Substance Abuse and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities § 33-2-203

(a) The councils are to provide citizen participation in policy planning and shall be representative of service recipients and their families, service recipient advocates for children, adults, and the elderly, service providers, agencies, and other affected persons and organizations. At least a majority of each council's membership shall consist of current or former service recipients and members of service recipient families.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the regional citizen-based planning and policy councils established by the department of mental health and substance abuse services shall strive to ensure that at least a majority of each council's membership consists of current or former service recipients and members of service recipient families.