HOUSE BILL 808 By Grills SENATE BILL 1197 By Jackson SB1197 002595 - 1 - AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 24, relative to compensation of county officials. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-24-102(d), is amended by designating the existing language as subdivision (d)(1) and adding the following as a new subdivision (d)(2): (2) (A) If the department of economic and community development determines that during the previous fiscal year a county experienced substantial characteristics of economic distress, then that county may, by resolution of the county legislative body, forgo the increase in compensation provided in subdivision (d)(1). (B) The minimum compensation for county officials in a county that chose not to increase the minimum compensation under subdivision (d)(2)(A) is increased to the level it would have been if not for the resolution when: (i) The department of economic and community development determines that the county is no longer experiencing substantial characteristics of economic distress; or (ii) County officials take office following the next county election after the resolution was adopted. (C) The department of economic and community development shall make the determination of each county's level of economic distress no later than - 2 - 002595 July 1 of each year based upon unemployment, per capita income, and poverty levels of all Tennessee counties using statistical data prepared by any agency of the state or federal government. (D) As used in this subdivision (d)(2), "substantial characteristics of economic distress" includes, but is not limited to, major loss of employment, recent high unemployment rates, traditionally low levels of family incomes, high levels of poverty, and high concentrations of employment in declining industries. SECTION 2. For purposes of determining which counties are experiencing economic distress, this act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.