TCA § 4-3-1408 — Divisions — Creation — Office of administrator

In addition to the creation of the division of the Tennessee state employment service within the department of labor and workforce development as provided in § 50-7-601, there are created within the department, the following divisions: The division of employment security; The bureau of workers' compensation; and The division of occupational safety and health. The division of employment security and the division of occupational health and safety shall be under the supervision and charge of the commissioner of labor and workforce development, and shall be separate administrative entities for programs, personnel, and budgets. The bureau of workers' compensation shall also be a separate administrative entity for programs, personnel, and budgets; the supervision and charge of the division shall be in accordance with § 4-3-1409. The office of administrator is hereby created for each division created pursuant to subdivisions (a)(1)-(3). The administrator shall have the general administrative authority of the division. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the administrator of the division of employment security is responsible, to the greatest extent possible, for administering, implementing, and enforcing title 50, chapter 7, and any rules or regulations promulgated in accordance with such chapter that are within the purview of employment security, but not including WOTC alien certification, veterans' programs and the Tennessee state employment service. The administrator shall have a minimum of five (5) years' credible experience in the field of employment security and shall have a comprehensive knowledge of and experience in the operation and programs of the division. 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 employment security. The administrator of the bureau of workers' compensation is responsible for administering, implementing, and enforcing all of the provisions enacted into law and compiled in title 50, chapter 6, and any rules or regulations promulgated in accordance with such chapter. The administrator of the division of occupational safety and health shall be responsible for administering, implementing, and enforcing all of the provisions enacted into law and compiled in title 50, chapter 3, and any rules or regulations promulgated in accordance with such chapter. The administrator shall have a minimum of five (5) years' credible experience in the field of occupational safety and health and shall have a comprehensive knowledge of and experience in the operation and programs of the division. 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 occupational safety and health. In addition to other duties, each administrator is responsible for preparing and submitting to the commissioner of labor and workforce development an annual budget for the division the administrator heads. The administrators of the division of employment security and the division of occupational safety and health shall be appointed by the commissioner of labor and workforce development for a term of four (4) years. The first appointment shall be made July 1, 1999, or as soon as practical thereafter. The four-year terms shall begin on July 1 and end on June 30 of appropriate years. The commissioner of labor and workforce development has the authority to remove an administrator only for nonperformance of duties and responsibilities. If removed, a vacancy shall exist in the office of the administrator. A vacancy in the office shall be filled for the unexpired term with a person meeting the requirements applicable to the original appointee. The administrator of the bureau of workers' compensation shall be appointed in the manner provided in § 4-3-1409. The transfer of the functions and activities of the various departments and programs to the department of labor and workforce development shall not, because of the transfer, result in any preferred service employee suffering loss of employment, compensation, benefits, or state service status. Such rights, benefits, and compensation shall continue without any impairment, interruption, or diminution; provided, that the department may engage in disciplinary actions or reductions in force as provided for by law. The commissioner of human resources is authorized to enforce this section and shall determine whenever the rights, benefits, and compensation are impaired, interrupted, or diminished. Any employee aggrieved by any impairment in violation of this section shall have the right to seek redress through the grievance procedure established in § 8-30-318.