Tennessee Code Title 5. Counties § 5-1-136

(c)(1) This section does not apply to an employment decision of a county government, if the county government submits notice in writing to the comptroller of the treasury that compliance with this section would result in a loss of federal funding, to the extent such an exemption for the employment decision is necessary to conform to federally awarded or amended contracts, subcontracts, or postsecondary grants as a condition to receipt of federal funds.  The comptroller of the treasury shall create guidelines as to what information is required in the notice.  The comptroller shall review a notice submitted by a county government and, if the comptroller finds that compliance would result in the loss of federal funding, then the comptroller shall notify the county government in writing of its exemption.

(2) After one (1) calendar year from the date on which the comptroller exempts an employment decision by a county government from this section, the county government shall submit in writing to the comptroller to have the exemption renewed for an additional one-year period.  A county government shall notify the comptroller within fourteen (14) days if the conditions or justifications for the comptroller granting the exemption no longer exist.

(1) Means any action or determination relating to the hiring, firing, retention, promotion, demotion, discipline, evaluation, compensation, training, reassignment, or any other term, condition, or privilege of employment;  and

(2) Does not include actions required under applicable state or federal employment laws.