Tennessee Code Title 41. Correctional Institutions and Inmates § 41-11-112

(a) This chapter only applies in counties having a population in excess of two hundred fifty thousand (250,000), and in any county having a population of not less than eighty thousand (80,000) nor more than eighty-three thousand (83,000), all according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census, and in any other county in which the county legislative body, by majority vote, adopts a resolution electing to utilize this chapter to seek reimbursement.

(b) All other counties shall be grouped by development districts established pursuant to title 13, chapter 14, part 1. For those counties, the comptroller of the treasury shall develop guidelines and solicit proposals for the collection of expenses incurred by the county in relation to the charge or charges for which a person was sentenced to a county jail pursuant to § 41-11-103. The guidelines developed by the comptroller of the treasury may, to the greatest extent possible, be based on the collection procedures established by this chapter or may utilize any other collection procedures and standards in the discretion of the comptroller of the treasury. The guidelines for collection may be based on a statewide proposal, be limited to a proposal by development districts or be a combination of both. In developing the proposals, the comptroller of the treasury shall give consideration to awarding a contract to the person or entity based on a percentage of amount retained, competency or ability to perform, costs incurred in securing reimbursement or be based on any other criteria developed by the comptroller of the treasury. The contract awarded by the comptroller of the treasury shall be a two-year contract.

(c) The reimbursements secured under the contracts, less the fee for collection, shall be deposited into the state general fund and, at least annually, shall be distributed to the general fund of the county in which the inmate was incarcerated. The funds may be used for any lawful purpose.