Present law generally prohibits adverse employment action against a person currently under employment with a local government solely on the basis of non-residence in such local government. The following counties are exempt from such prohibition: Davidson; Hamilton; Knox; Moore; and Trousdale.
This bill prohibits any county, metropolitan government, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state from having a residency requirement for paid, full-time law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel other than the chief or head of the department ("first responders") as a condition of employment. This bill specifies that it does not affect a local government’s policy regarding the use of a vehicle while not on duty.
ON MARCH 4, 2021, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND 2, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 29, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 replaces this bill's prohibition against local governments establishing residency requirements for first responders with a prohibition against local governments dismissing, disciplining, fining, or penalizing a first responder employed by a local government, or denying employment to a person applying to be a first responder, based on where the first responder or applicant resides.
This amendment modifies this bill's definition of "first responders" to include dispatchers of law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical service departments and exclude department chiefs and heads.
This amendment adds that this bill will not affect a local agencies' policies that require responses by employees who, based upon their assignment, are required to respond to an emergency or call out within a specific time period.
AMENDMENT #2 adds to this bill's preamble and exempts Hamilton County from the prohibition against imposing residency requirements on first responders employed by local government entities.
ON FEBRUARY 24, 2022, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 29 FOR HOUSE BILL 105, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 29, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to prohibit Memphis from having a residency requirement for first responders as a condition of employment. This amendment defines "first responder" as a paid, full-time law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical personnel other than the chief or head of the department. This amendment specifies that it does not affect a local government's policy regarding the use of a vehicle while not on duty.
ON MARCH 7, 2022, THE SENATE NON-CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #1.
ON MARCH 14, 2022, THE HOUSE LIFTED THE TABLING MOTION, RECONSIDERED ITS ACTION IN ADOPTING AMENDMENT #1, WITHDREW AMENDMENT #1, AND RE-PASSED SENATE BILL 29.

Statutes affected:
Current Version: 8-50-107
Amended with SA0015, SA0022 -- 03/04/2021: 8-50-107
Amended with SA0015, SA0022, HA0549 -- 02/24/2022: 8-50-107