Tennessee Code Title 8. Public Officers and Employees § 8-50-109

(a) The chief elected officer of any employee association which has qualified for payroll deductions for association dues in accordance with § 8-23-204, shall, upon application to the employee's department head, be allowed up to two (2) years leave of absence without pay to perform the responsibilities and duties of such person's office. This shall not apply to a chief elected officer of any employee association who is under the executive grade pay plan or the doctor and dentist pay plan. At the option of such person, the person may be paid for any accrued annual leave or any accrued annual leave may be carried forward to such time as the person returns to such person's position in state government. In the event the person elects to be paid for annual leave, the period of time for the leave of absence without pay shall be accordingly reduced.

(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, no such person on leave without pay shall be entitled to any benefits unless the full cost of the same are paid by the person on leave and/or the association of which the person is the chief elected officer.

(c) At the end of the period of leave, any person who has taken such leave shall be entitled to return to the person's former position at the same place of employment in the same class or rank in the division or department which such person held prior to taking such leave.

(d) Any leave granted under this section shall not diminish any employee rights, including accrued but unused leave, longevity or those arising from longevity or time in grade.

(e) Such person shall be entitled during the period of such leave to all benefits that person is otherwise entitled to, including, but not limited to, insurance and retirement; provided, that the person or the association involved reimburses the state for its cost for such benefits in the same manner and to the same extent that would have accrued had the person not taken such leave.