House Bill 71, sponsored by Sparks, amends Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Section 8-7-227, to enhance the eligibility criteria for assistant district attorneys regarding service credit for prior law enforcement experience. The bill introduces a new provision that allows assistant district attorneys to receive year-for-year service credit for their previous law enforcement experience, contingent upon the recommendation of the hiring district attorney general and the approval of the executive director of the Tennessee district attorneys general conference.

Additionally, the bill clarifies the definition of "prior law enforcement experience" by designating the existing language as subsection (a) and adding a new subsection (b). This new subsection specifies that "prior law enforcement experience" refers to full-time employment with a law enforcement agency as a POST-certified law enforcement officer, and it requires an employment record from the law enforcement agency to validate this experience. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law, emphasizing its importance for public welfare.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 8-7-227