The Tennessee POST Commission on Sept. 19 voted to open rulemaking to change the timing for submission of preemployment packages for law-enforcement hires, aligning the rule with a 2024 performance audit finding.

Commission counsel told the commission the proposed change affects rule 1110-05-01 and would revise when agencies must submit an officer's preemployment package so the commission’s process matches the audit recommendation. “The audit finding ... was that preemployment packages weren't being submitted on the first day of a law enforcement officer's employment,” counsel said. Counsel added the office often finds practice does not match the written rule, and the change is intended to reduce a six-month window that staff believe is being misinterpreted and sometimes abused.

Commissioners voted to approve counsel's request to open rulemaking. The motion passed on a voice vote; no roll-call breakdown was provided in the transcript.

The commission said the amended language will be published for the required rulemaking process and later return to the commission for a rulemaking hearing and final action. Counsel said the rule change will allow staff to tighten the period during which agencies may operate officers without completed POST preemployment files and reduce the number of officers working for months before documentation is received.

Commission staff framed the move as an administrative alignment rather than a change in substantive certification requirements. The commission did not set an adoption date on Sept. 19; staff said the change will proceed through the standard rulemaking calendar and come back to the full commission for the formal hearing.

The commission's vote to open rulemaking followed brief discussion about the audit and the operational problems created when paperwork arrives well after officers begin work. No additional materials or outside agencies were identified as required for implementation at this stage.

The item was approved at the Sept. 19 meeting and will proceed through public notice and a formal rulemaking hearing before final adoption.