Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-3-1409 (2026)
Independence of the bureau of workers' compensation - Bureau under the charge and general supervision of the administrator of the bureau - Powers and duties of administrator -Appointment of administrator
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) In recognition of Tennessee's endeavor to reform the workers' compensation law in a manner designed to ensure the health and safety of Tennessee workers and to promote Tennessee as an attractive destination for business, the general assembly has determined that the independence of the bureau of workers' compensation is paramount. The bureau of workers' compensation shall be an autonomous unit that shall be attached to the department of labor and workforce development for administrative matters only.
- (b)
- (1) The bureau of workers' compensation shall be under the charge and general supervision of the administrator.
- (2) The administrator or the administrator's designee has the following powers and duties, in addition to other powers and duties specifically provided by law:
- (A) Development and maintenance of an organizational structure to ensure fair, equitable, expeditious, and efficient administration of the workers' compensation law; and
- (B) Responsibility for the administration of a workers' compensation system that protects the life, health, and safety of Tennessee's workforce and ensures the continued viability of Tennessee's business environment.
- (c)
- (1) The administrator of the bureau of workers' compensation shall be appointed by the governor for a term of six (6) years. No administrator shall serve more than two (2) full terms, and service of more than half of a six-year term shall constitute service of one (1) full term; provided, that any administrator appointed to serve less than a full term to fill a vacancy created by the removal or resignation of the previous administrator shall be eligible to serve an additional two (2) full terms. The first appointment shall be made July 1, 2013, or as soon as practical thereafter. The first six-year term shall begin on July 1, 2013, and end on June 30, 2019. Thereafter, all terms shall begin on July 1 and end, six (6) years later, on June 30 of the following years. The governor has the authority to remove the administrator for nonperformance of duties and responsibilities or for cause. If the administrator is removed or resigns, a vacancy shall exist in the office, which shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person meeting the requirements of subdivision (c)(2).
- (2) The administrator shall have a minimum of seven (7) years' credible experience in the field of workers' compensation and shall have a comprehensive knowledge of and experience in the operation and programs of the workers' compensation industry. The administrator shall be recognized by the representatives of the business and labor communities as a person of good standing and reputation in matters concerning workers' compensation.
Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 341, Secs.s 16, s 16 eff. 5/4/2015.
Added by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 289, s 2, eff. 4/29/2013.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 24
cases (6 in the last 5 years), 2015–2025 · leading case: Yarbrough, James v. Prot. Servs. Co., Inc., 2016 TN WC App. 3 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2016).
Yarbrough, James v. Prot. Servs. Co., Inc., 2016 TN WC App. 3 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2016). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-3-1409 (b)(2)(A) (2014).”
Smith, William Edward, Jr. v. The Newman Grp., LLC, 2015 TN WC App. 31 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2015). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-3-1409 (b)(2)(A) (2014).”
Syph, Deborah v. Choice Food Grp., Inc., 2016 TN WC App. 18 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2016). “36(a) (relief need not be granted to a party “who failed to take whatever action was reasonably available to prevent or nullify the harmful effect of an error”).”
Cotton, Alan v. HUMACare, Inc., 2016 TN WC App. 44 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2016). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-3-1409 (b)(2)(A) (2016).”
King, Joshua T. v. Compass Hearing & Air, 2016 TN WC 233 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2016). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-3-1409 (b)(2)(A) (2014).”
Barrett, Buster v. Lithko Contracting, Inc., 2016 TN WC App. 68 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2016). “9, 2015) (citation omitted) (involving a potentially dispositive motion which went unresolved for approximately seven months); see also Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-3-1409 (b)(2)(A) (2014) (the workers’ compensation system is intended to be administered in a “fair, equitable,…”
Babb, Willis Ray v. House Hasson Hardware Co., Inc., 2016 TN WC 312 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2016). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-3-1409 (b)(2)(A) (2014).”
Watson, Reginald v. Labor Smart, Inc., 2017 TN WC App. 13 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2017). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-3-1409 (b)(2)(A) (2016).”
Taylor, Vincent v. Am. Tire Distributors, 2017 TN WC App. 46 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2017). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-3-1409 (2016). This case is a prime example.”
Batey, Christopher v. Deliver This, Inc., 2017 TN WC 156 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2017). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-3-1409 (b)(2)(A). In view of the above, the Court holds that Mr.”
Thompson, David v. Comcast Corp., 2018 TN WC App. 1 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2018). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-3-1409 (b)(2)(A) (2017).”
Bowlin, Nicole v. Servall, LLC, 2018 TN WC App. 6 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2018). “However, I maintain that neither Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6- 239(d)(1) (2017), which authorizes workers’ compensation judges to hear disputed issues on an expedited basis, nor the regulations promulgated pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 4-3-1409 (2017),…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-3-1409(a) — 1 case
Scruggs, Carla v. Amazon.com Servs., LLC, 2022 TN WC App. 43 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2022).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-3-1409(b)(2)(A) — 1 case
Goodwin, Charles v. Morristown Driver's Servs., Inc, 2019 TN WC App. 33 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2019).
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