Tennessee Senate Bill SB0812

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 7, relative to assistant district attorneys.

Summary

SB 812 amends Tennessee law governing assistant district attorneys to allow them to receive year-for-year service credit for prior law enforcement experience. The credit is available only when recommended by the hiring district attorney general and approved by the executive director of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. The bill defines qualifying prior law enforcement experience as full-time employment with a law enforcement agency as a POST-certified law enforcement officer, and requires an employment record from the agency to prove that experience. In practical terms, the bill creates a pathway for former police officers and other POST-certified law enforcement personnel who become assistant district attorneys to have their prior service recognized in their employment benefits or service calculations under Title 8, Chapter 7. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law, reflecting an intent to implement the change without delay.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 7, by adding a new eligibility provision for assistant district attorneys and by defining the term "prior law enforcement experience" for that purpose. It affects hiring and service-credit determinations within district attorney offices and the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, while potentially influencing compensation, seniority, or retirement-related service calculations tied to credited service.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes are provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the available materials. Based on the text alone, the bill appears narrowly tailored and administrative in nature, suggesting a generally practical or supportive posture toward recognizing prior law enforcement service for prosecutors who previously served in policing roles.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are the scope of eligible experience and the discretion built into the approval process. The bill limits credit to full-time POST-certified law enforcement employment and requires documentation from the agency, which may exclude other public-safety or investigative experience. It also conditions credit on the recommendation of the hiring district attorney general and approval by the executive director of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, leaving room for disagreement over consistency, fairness, and how broadly the credit should be applied.