2023 Tennessee Code › Title 8 - PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES (§§ 8-1-101 — 65-168) › Chapter 36 - RETIREMENT BENEFITS (§§ 8-36-101 — 8-36-924) › Part 7 - INCREASED OR DECREASED ALLOWANCES (§§ 8-36-701 — 8-36-715) › Section 8-36-714 - Requirements to be compensated as president emeritus - Continued eligibility requirements - Filing of agreement

(a)
The board of trustees of the University of Tennessee may grant to any former president of the University of Tennessee the title "president emeritus." A state university board or the board of regents may grant to any former president of any college or university it governs a similar "emeritus" title. No former president shall receive any compensation or remuneration for holding the emeritus title, unless the following conditions are met:
(1)
The remuneration is for time actually spent by the former president in performing services for the respective governing board;
(2)
An agreement is executed between the respective governing board and the former president which sets forth the duties to be performed by the former president;
(3)
The agreement cannot exceed a term of one (1) year. The respective governing board may enter into additional one-year agreements with the former president. No renewal agreement shall be entered into until the governing board reviews and is satisfied with the emeritus work performed by the former president. Any such renewal must be approved by an affirmative vote of a majority of the respective governing board;
(4)
The former president must reside in the state of Tennessee at the time of the initial appointment and at the time of any subsequent appointment; and
(5)
The former president shall not accrue any additional retirement credit as a result of such appointment.
(b)
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any former president receiving compensation or remuneration for holding the emeritus title pursuant to this section shall be eligible to continue drawing such person's retirement allowance; provided, that the former president does not work and is not compensated for more than one hundred twenty (120) days or the equivalent of one hundred twenty (120) days during the one-year appointment, or, if working as a teacher, for more than twenty-four (24) quarter credit hours or eighteen (18) semester credit hours during the one-year appointment. If the period exceeds that specified in this subsection (b), the former president's monthly retirement allowance shall be reduced in direct proportion thereto. The retirement system is authorized to obtain reimbursement for any retirement benefits overpaid as a result of any compensation being paid to a former president in excess of that permitted by this section. Such reimbursement may be made by deductions from the former president's monthly benefit.
(c)
For each emeritus appointment for which compensation or remuneration will be paid, the respective governing board shall be responsible for filing with the retirement division the agreement, which sets forth the name of the person holding the title, and the beginning and ending date of the appointment. The agreement shall be accompanied with documentation showing the amount of compensation to be paid to the person and the number of hours to be worked. The agreement and documentation shall be filed annually, if applicable, and signed by the former president acknowledging the conditions of the appointment. The governing board shall send written notice to the speaker of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chairs of the senate standing committees on education and on finance, ways and means, the chairs of the standing committees on education administration and finance, ways and means of the house of representatives, and the office of legislative budget analysis of each emeritus appointment for which compensation or remuneration will be paid.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 64, s 9, eff. 3/29/2021.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 345, s 16, eff. 5/10/2019.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 602, Secs.s 2, s 3 eff. 3/23/2018.
Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 182, s 5, eff. 4/17/2015.
Acts 2000, ch. 840, § 1; 2005, ch. 203, § 5; 2010 , ch. 1030, § 9.