Tennessee Code Title 33. Mental Health and Substance Abuse and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities § 33-3-303

(b)(1) Subject to the availability of suitable accommodations, a nonresident person with mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, or developmental disability may be hospitalized or admitted under this title for observation, diagnosis and treatment, but in no case for a period longer than thirty (30) days, pending transfer to the state of residence.

(2) However, the commissioner may designate certain nonresident persons with mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, or developmental disabilities, not to exceed a total of one hundred (100), as “commissioner's service recipients,” who because of their nonresident status in Tennessee are not entitled to hospitalization or admission in this state, but who, having families residing in the state, may be eligible for psychiatric hospitalization or admission, care and treatment for compassionate reasons.