AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 1, relative to the transfer of the State Testing Program from the University of Tennessee to the Department of Education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 1, is amended by adding the following new section.

(a) The Department of Education may develop a plan to transfer all or part of the State Testing Program from the University of Tennessee to the Department of Education.

(b) The plan developed by the Department of Education must be approved by the President of the University of Tennessee, the Commissioner of Personnel and the Commissioner of Finance and Administration. In addition to any other items necessary to effecuate the transfer of this program, this plan is also authorized to transfer up to twenty-two (22) full-time employees of the University of Tennessee who perform services for the State Testing Program. Such employees shall be transferred into the State service with all rights and privileges granted under current civil service law, rule, policy or procedure . Further it is the intent of this legislation that these employees be held harmless by this transfer to the extent the law allows.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming law, the public welfare requiring it.