Tennessee Code Title 8. Public Officers and Employees § 8-23-202

(a) The “pay period” for state employees shall be semimonthly. On or about the last day of every such “pay period,” all state employees shall be paid for the preceding semimonthly period or any part thereof for which compensation is due.

(b) The provisions of § 8-23-101 to the contrary notwithstanding, the department of human resources and the department of finance and administration may develop a semimonthly pay plan for all officials and employees of state government, with the exception of persons employed by the University of Tennessee and the colleges and universities under the jurisdiction of the state board of regents. However, any pay plan for officials and employees of the legislative branch is subject to approval by the speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives, and any plan for the judicial branch is subject to approval by the presiding judges of the superior courts and the attorney general and reporter.

(c) The commissioner of finance and administration is authorized to require that salaries of state employees be paid through direct-deposit procedures in accordance with policies established by the commissioner.