Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-42-101 (2026)
Chapter definitions
✓ current as of May 2026
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
- (1) "Attorney general and reporter" means the attorney general and reporter of Tennessee;
- (2) "Counsel" means any practicing attorney licensed to practice law in the state; and
- (3)
- (A) "State employee" means any person who is a state official, including members of the general assembly and legislative officials elected by the general assembly, or any person who is employed in the service of and whose compensation is payable by the state, or any person who is employed by the state whose compensation is paid in whole or in part from federal funds, but does not include any person employed on a contractual or percentage basis. "State employee" includes a foster parent under a contract with the state, or with an agency under contract with the state, to provide foster home care for children in the care and custody of the state and within the confines of the foster parent-child relationship. Notwithstanding any statute to the contrary, for the purposes of provision of legal representation, "state employee" also includes employees of community service agencies, and for purposes of §§ 9-8-112 and 9-8-307, including, but not limited to, § 9-8-307(a)(1)(K), "state employee" also includes employees of community service agencies. "State employee" also includes a contract security employee working with the department of children's services, solely to the extent that such contract security employee shall be permitted to drive a state vehicle pursuant to the rules and regulations of the department of general services, division of motor vehicle management, if such contract security employee's duties include the transportation of juveniles and, such contract security employee shall not be considered a state employee for any other purpose;
- (B) "State employee" also includes any person designated by a department or agency head as a participant in a volunteer program authorized by the department or agency head. "State employee" also includes community service agency volunteers designated by the commissioner of health; provided, that designated volunteers who are medical professionals providing direct health care pursuant to title 37, chapter 5, part 3 shall be considered state employees solely for the category of "professional liability" pursuant to § 9-8-307. Volunteers shall not be eligible for workers' compensation benefits from the state. It is the duty of each agency and department to register with the board of claims the names of all persons participating in a volunteer program authorized by such department or agency head. If an agency or department head fails to register the name of a volunteer with the board of claims, any amounts paid by the state pursuant to this chapter or title 9, chapter 8 as a result of the volunteer's actions shall be funded through the agency's or department's budget. The commissioner of finance and administration is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to determine who is qualified to be designated as a volunteer. Such rules and regulations may set forth the criteria for qualification of participants in volunteer programs. All such rules and regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5;
- (C) "State employee" under this chapter and under title 9, chapter 8, also includes, as a volunteer, a person designated by the district attorney general of each judicial district as a member of a judicial district task force relating to the investigation and prosecution of drug cases. The district attorney general of each judicial district shall register only the names of properly qualified and designated task force members with the board of claims. Any member of such a task force designated by the district attorney general shall meet the criteria for qualifying as such a member pursuant to § 8-7-110 and as set forth in rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner of finance and administration. The commissioner, after consultation with the department of safety and the Tennessee bureau of investigation, is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to determine who shall qualify to be designated as a member of such judicial district task forces. Such rules and regulations may set criteria for qualifications of members and may set limits on the numbers of task force members from each district who may be registered. All such rules and regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act. Task force members are not eligible for workers' compensation benefits from the state of Tennessee;
- (D) "State employee" also includes persons who are members of community-based screening processes or mandatory pre-screening agents that function under title 33, chapter 6, and who screen individuals to make judgments required by title 33, chapter 6. "State employee" further includes the department of mental health and substance abuse services "medical consultant"; this individual shall be a licensed physician who is designated by the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services to provide medical consultation and advisory services to and on behalf of the commissioner and to the department of mental health and substance abuse services under title 33. "State employee" further includes any physician, psychologist or designated professional, while acting under § 33-6-404(3)(B)(iii), who is engaged in assessing the need or absence of need for physical restraint or vehicle security during transportation to a hospital or treatment resource. The commissioner shall register only the names of properly qualified and designated persons with the board of claims. Persons designated under this subdivision (3)(D) are not eligible for workers' compensation benefits from the state of Tennessee. For purposes of legal actions resulting from acts or omissions by these properly qualified and designated persons while performing duties referenced in this subdivision (3)(D), the state shall be considered the sole employer of these persons;
- (E) "State employee" also includes, solely for purposes of this chapter and under § 9-8-307(a)(1)(A), (D), (E), (F), (M), (N), (Q) and (R), staff of a child advocacy center that meets the requirements for funding under § 9-4-213(a) or that qualifies for start-up funding as a new child advocacy center under § 9-4-213(b), to the extent the person is performing functions authorized by § 9-4-213. "State employee" does not include any person employed on a contractual or percentage basis. Such staff shall not be eligible for workers' compensation or other benefits from the state, nor shall such staff be members of the Tennessee consolidated retirement system;
- (F) "State employee" also includes, solely for purposes of this chapter and under §§ 9-8-112 and 9-8-307, a person directly participating or selected to directly participate in the process of executing a sentence of death as a contractor or volunteer. Such persons shall not be eligible for any other state employee benefits, including, but not limited to, workers' compensation, nor shall they be members of the Tennessee consolidated retirement system;
- (G) "State employee" also includes, solely for purposes of this chapter and under §§ 9-8-112 and 9-8-307, a qualified individual employed pursuant to § 68-115-203(b) to assist ring officials and commission members pursuant to § 68-115-203(b) in the regulation of professional contests under title 68, chapter 115, part 2. Such individuals shall not be eligible for any other state employee benefits, including, but not limited to, workers' compensation, nor shall they be members of the Tennessee consolidated retirement system;
- (H) "State employee" also includes, solely for purposes of this chapter and under §§ 9-8-112 and 9-8-307, directors, officers, employees of the Doe Mountain recreation authority, and persons designated by the authority as participants in volunteer programs authorized by the authority; and
- (I) "State employee" also includes, solely for purposes of this chapter and under §§ 9-8-112 and 9-8-307, a contracted court reporter when the contracted court reporter is named in a civil action for damages alleging an act or omission by the contracted court reporter in the course of performing the contracted court reporter's official duties.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 853, s 1, eff. 4/20/2022.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 213, s 1, eff. 4/28/2017.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 830, s 1, eff. 7/1/2014.
Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 32, s 3, eff. 3/20/2013.
Acts 1973, ch. 128, § 1; T.C.A., § 8-4201; Acts 1980, ch. 527, § 1; 1984, ch. 972, § 19; 1985, ch. 105, § 11; 1989, ch. 28, § 1; 1989, ch. 63, § 1; 1993, ch. 530, § 1; 1995, ch. 370, §§1, 9, 10; 1995, ch. 505, § 1; 1996, ch. 1079, § 28; 1999, ch. 461, §1; 2000, ch. 947, § 6; 2001, ch. 377, §§ 1, 2; 2004, ch. 908, §2; 2009 , ch. 100, § 1; 2009 , ch. 468, § 3; 2009 , ch. 598, § 12; 2010 , ch. 1100, § 20; 2012 , ch. 575, §§ 1, 2; 2012 , ch. 798, § 3.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 58
cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1990–2025 · leading case: Shelburne v. Frontier Health, 126 S.W.3d 838 (Tenn. 2003).
Shelburne v. Frontier Health, 126 S.W.3d 838 (Tenn. 2003). “We therefore conclude that it is not necessary for an individual to be admitted to or discharged from a state-owned mental health institute for a health care provider to meet the requirements of section 8-42-101(3)0». In addition, health care providers who screen incarcerated…”
Lamb v. Tenth Jud. Dist. Drug Task Force, 944 F. Supp. 2d 586 (E.D. Tenn. 2013). “Based on Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 8-42-101 (3)(C) and 8-7-110(e), “the Task Force is a state entity, and its members are state employees.”
Johnson v. LeBonheur Child.'s Med. Ctr., 74 S.W.3d 338 (Tenn. 2002). “They were compensated by UT and thus were state employees pursuant to Tenn.Code Ann. § 8-42-101(3). While in the UT training program, both resident physicians worked on rotation at LeBonheur.”
Jordan v. Knox Cnty., 213 S.W.3d 751 (Tenn. 2007). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-42-101 (3)(C) (Supp.2006).”
Younger v. State, 205 S.W.3d 494 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “2005), which sets out the jurisdiction of the Claims Commission and provides, in relevant part, as follows: (a)(1) The commission or each commissioner sitting individually has exclusive jurisdiction to determine all monetary claims against the state based on the acts or…”
Lucas v. State, 141 S.W.3d 121 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). “" Tenn.Code Ann. § 8-42-101(3)(A). 4 . Satterfield, in addition to his false testimony, attempted to persuade a co-defendant, Apple, to lie and claim to have been a witness to the murder and further gave Apple "hush money” after the plaintiffs’ trials in order to induce his…”
Thompson v. Reg'l Med. Ctr. at Memphis, 748 F. Supp. 575 (W.D. Tenn. 1990). “Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate how an agency relationship between The Med and the UT Doctors removes the UT Doctors from the scope of Tenn.Code Ann. § 8-42-101(a)(3). Plaintiff does not argue that The Med had exclusive control over the UT Doctors but contends that The Med…”
Dobson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 324 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). “— (a)(1) The commission or each commissioner sitting individually has exclusive jurisdiction to *330 determine all monetary claims against the state based on the acts or omissions of “state employees,” as defined in § 8-42-101(3), falling within one (1) or more of the following…”
Lewis v. State, 73 S.W.3d 88 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “§ 9-8-307 defines the jurisdiction of the Claims Commission: (a)(1) The commission or each commissioner sitting individually has exclusive jurisdiction to determine all monetary claims against the state based on the acts or omissions of “state employees,” as defined in §…”
Williams v. State, 139 S.W.3d 308 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). “§ 9-8-307 provides, in pertinent part: (a)(1) The commission or each commissioner sitting individually has exclusive jurisdiction to determine all monetary claims against the state based on the acts or omissions of “state employees,” as defined in § 8-42-101(3), falling with…”
Perez v. Wade, 652 F. Supp. 2d 901 (W.D. Tenn. 2009). “§ 8-42-101(3)(C) provides that "State employee” under this chapter and under title 9, chapter 8, also includes, as a volunteer, a person designated by the district attorney general of each judicial district as a member of a judicial district task force relating to the…”
Begley v. State, 162 S.W.3d 535 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). “§ 9-8-307(a)(1) provides, in pertinent part: (a)(1) The commission or each commissioner sitting individually has exclusive jurisdiction to determine all monetary claims against the state based on the acts or omissions of "state employees," as defined in § 8-42-101(3), falling…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-42-101(3) — 33 cases
Johnson v. LeBonheur Child.'s Med. Ctr., 74 S.W.3d 338 (Tenn. 2002). “They were compensated by UT and thus were state employees pursuant to Tenn.Code Ann. § 8-42-101(3). While in the UT training program, both resident physicians worked on rotation at LeBonheur.”
Shelburne v. Frontier Health, 126 S.W.3d 838 (Tenn. 2003). “We therefore conclude that it is not necessary for an individual to be admitted to or discharged from a state-owned mental health institute for a health care provider to meet the requirements of section 8-42-101(3)0». In addition, health care providers who screen incarcerated…”
Dobson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 324 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). “— (a)(1) The commission or each commissioner sitting individually has exclusive jurisdiction to *330 determine all monetary claims against the state based on the acts or omissions of “state employees,” as defined in § 8-42-101(3), falling within one (1) or more of the following…”
Lewis v. State, 73 S.W.3d 88 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “§ 9-8-307 defines the jurisdiction of the Claims Commission: (a)(1) The commission or each commissioner sitting individually has exclusive jurisdiction to determine all monetary claims against the state based on the acts or omissions of “state employees,” as defined in §…”
Williams v. State, 139 S.W.3d 308 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). “§ 9-8-307 provides, in pertinent part: (a)(1) The commission or each commissioner sitting individually has exclusive jurisdiction to determine all monetary claims against the state based on the acts or omissions of “state employees,” as defined in § 8-42-101(3), falling with…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-42-101(3)(A) — 6 cases
Lucas v. State, 141 S.W.3d 121 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). “" Tenn.Code Ann. § 8-42-101(3)(A). 4 . Satterfield, in addition to his false testimony, attempted to persuade a co-defendant, Apple, to lie and claim to have been a witness to the murder and further gave Apple "hush money” after the plaintiffs’ trials in order to induce his…”
Younger v. State, 205 S.W.3d 494 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “2005), which sets out the jurisdiction of the Claims Commission and provides, in relevant part, as follows: (a)(1) The commission or each commissioner sitting individually has exclusive jurisdiction to determine all monetary claims against the state based on the acts or…”
Judith Moore-Pennoyer v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 2016).
Phillip Lucas . v. State of Tennessee Michael E. Collins v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004).
Glenda Cooper v. State, 106 S.W.3d 688 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-42-101(3)(C) — 2 cases
Lamb v. Tenth Jud. Dist. Drug Task Force, 944 F. Supp. 2d 586 (E.D. Tenn. 2013). “Based on Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 8-42-101 (3)(C) and 8-7-110(e), “the Task Force is a state entity, and its members are state employees.”
Perez v. Wade, 652 F. Supp. 2d 901 (W.D. Tenn. 2009). “§ 8-42-101(3)(C) provides that "State employee” under this chapter and under title 9, chapter 8, also includes, as a volunteer, a person designated by the district attorney general of each judicial district as a member of a judicial district task force relating to the…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-42-101(3)(D) — 3 cases
Shelburne v. Frontier Health, 126 S.W.3d 838 (Tenn. 2003). “We therefore conclude that it is not necessary for an individual to be admitted to or discharged from a state-owned mental health institute for a health care provider to meet the requirements of section 8-42-101(3)0». In addition, health care providers who screen incarcerated…”
Shirley Shelburne v. Frontier Health (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001).
Shirley Shelburne v. Frontier Health (Tenn. 1997).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-42-101(a)(3) — 3 cases
Thompson v. Reg'l Med. Ctr. at Memphis, 748 F. Supp. 575 (W.D. Tenn. 1990). “Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate how an agency relationship between The Med and the UT Doctors removes the UT Doctors from the scope of Tenn.Code Ann. § 8-42-101(a)(3). Plaintiff does not argue that The Med had exclusive control over the UT Doctors but contends that The Med…”
Ronald Paul v. State (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003).
Coleman v. State (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-42-101(a)(3)(A) — 2 cases
Thompson v. Reg'l Med. Ctr. at Memphis, 748 F. Supp. 575 (W.D. Tenn. 1990). “Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate how an agency relationship between The Med and the UT Doctors removes the UT Doctors from the scope of Tenn.Code Ann. § 8-42-101(a)(3). Plaintiff does not argue that The Med had exclusive control over the UT Doctors but contends that The Med…”
Ronald Paul v. State (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003).
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