Tennessee Code Title 8. Public Officers and Employees § 8-39-209

(a) A former governor or the former governor's surviving spouse shall receive the full allowance payable pursuant to this part; provided, that such governor served at least one (1) full year in office. The allowance payable to a former governor or the former governor's surviving spouse, who served less than one (1) full year, shall be prorated in accordance with the time actually served as compared with the one (1) year minimum required to receive a full benefit. If the death of a governor shall occur while the governor is serving in office, the governor's surviving spouse shall receive the full allowance payable regardless of the time served by the governor.

(b) This section shall not apply during the current term of the governor in office on May 12, 1982, or to any former governor who served in office prior to May 12, 1982.