House Bill 497, sponsored by Atchley, amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 7, concerning the compensation of public employees. The bill modifies the existing language in Section 8-7-202(b) by removing the provision that disallows payment of an expense account if a person fails to comply with the section. Instead, it introduces a new requirement that allows for payment of the expense account if the assistant district attorney general or criminal investigator submits the account with an explanation for late submission within five days of the end of the month.

The bill is set to take effect on June 30, 2025, emphasizing the importance of compliance while providing a mechanism for late submissions to be considered under specific circumstances. This change aims to ensure that public employees are not penalized for late submissions without a valid reason, thereby promoting fairness in the compensation process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 8-7-202(b), 8-7-202