HB615: HB615 Chatham County Recreation Authority; abolish current authority memberships; provide new board membership

The Chatham County Recreation Authority was created by a 1995 state law. This bill amends that law to change how the authority's governing board is structured and staffed. From July 1, 2025 until February 28, 2029, the board can have up to 14 members. Starting March 1, 2029, it shrinks to nine members. Current board members finish their existing terms, but most vacancies that come up will simply be eliminated rather than refilled, except for two specific seats: when board member Sandra Cason's term ends, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners appoints a replacement from names nominated by the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, and when board member Bob Fritz's term ends, the Commissioners appoint a replacement directly. The bill also sets term lengths (two years for delegation appointees, four years for the two Commissioner appointees), redefines a quorum as a majority of the board seats set by the law, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

• Shrinks the Chatham County Recreation Authority board from up to 14 members to nine members, phased in by March 1, 2029.
• Eliminates board seats as they come open, except for two specific seats tied to outgoing members Sandra Cason and Bob Fritz.
• Directs the Chatham County Board of Commissioners to fill the Cason seat from nominees submitted by the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Directs the Chatham County Board of Commissioners to directly appoint a replacement for the Bob Fritz seat.
• Sets two-year terms for board members appointed by the Chatham County legislative delegation and four-year terms for the two Commissioner-appointed members.
• Redefines a quorum as a majority of the board members authorized under the law, and states that vacancies do not block the board from acting.

Current and future members of the Chatham County Recreation Authority board, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners, the Chatham County legislative delegation in the General Assembly, and the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, which gains a nomination role for one board seat.

Chatham County residents rely on the recreation authority to oversee local recreation facilities and programs. Cutting the board's size and changing how vacancies are filled shifts control over future appointments away from the legislative delegation and toward the county commission and a local business group.

• Section 1 amends Section 2(b) of the 1995 Act, capping the board at 14 members through February 28, 2029, then reducing it to nine members starting March 1, 2029.
• Current members finish their existing terms, but most vacancies created after the effective date are abolished rather than refilled.
• The Cason seat is filled by the Board of Commissioners from nominees provided by the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce; the Fritz seat is filled directly by the Board of Commissioners.
• Legislative delegation appointees serve two-year terms (with three of the initial seven serving one-year terms); the two Commissioner appointees serve four-year terms (with an initial three-year term for the Fritz successor).
• Section 2(h) is revised to define a quorum as a majority of the board members authorized by the Act and to clarify that vacancies do not prevent the board from acting.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as July 1, 2025.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2025-03-25House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-03-25House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
3. 2025-03-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
4. 2025-03-04House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
5. 2025-02-27House Second Readers (House)
6. 2025-02-26House First Readers (House)
7. 2025-02-24House Hopper (House)

• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)Primary sponsor
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Edna Jackson (D, HD-165)

• Chatham County government
• local authorities
• recreation authority
• board appointments
• Savannah area