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Committee approves repeal of Highway Patrol employee‑citizenship rule, agency says statute covers substance
Summary
The Department of Safety asked the committee to repeal an outdated rule requiring Tennessee Highway Patrol officers or dispatchers be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents because TCA 38‑8‑105 now covers the substance; the committee voted to move the repeal with a positive recommendation after clarifying that lawful permanent residents remain eligible under state law.
Graham Tudor, director of legislation at the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, told the committee the department proposes repealing rule chapter 13‑40‑0701 because state statute (TCA 38‑8‑105) now governs employee eligibility. Tudor said the rule should be repealed because the statute covers the rule’s substance.
Members asked whether repeal would allow noncitizens to work for the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Tudor responded that lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens remain eligible "and that's in state law and we just follow what's in state law." The committee recorded a positive recommendation to move the repeal forward.
