Tennessee Code Title 68. Health, Safety and Environmental Protection § 68-1-104

(1) Especially study the vital statistics of this state, and endeavor to make intelligent and profitable use of the records of sickness and death among the people;

(2) Make sanitary investigations and inquiries respecting the causes of disease, especially epidemics, the causes of death, effects of employment, habits, localities and circumstances, upon the health of the people;

(3) Advise, when the commissioner deems it necessary, in reference to location, water supply, drainage, and ventilation of any public institutions;

(4) From time to time, recommend works upon the subject of hygiene for the use of the schools of this state;

(5) Have the authority to petition the chancery court of Davidson County for judicial review, pursuant to § 4-5-322, of any final order of any board or similar multi-member agency administered by or administratively assigned to the department. This subdivision (5) shall not apply to the boards created by title 59, chapter 8; chapter 201 or chapter 211 of this title; or title 69, chapter 3;

(6) Have the authority to appoint administrative judges from the administrative procedures division of the office of the secretary of state, pursuant to § 4-5-301, to hear contested cases before the department, and contested cases before any board or similar multi-member agency administered by or administratively assigned to the department, upon the request of such board or agency. These boards and agencies are authorized to utilize such administrative judges; and