Tennessee Local Government Ethical Standards
With the recent troubles that some Federal and State elected government officials have gotten themselves into, it is important that one look at what is happening at the local government level as far as ethics are concerned.
Below, are Local Government Ethical Standards for the State of Tennessee.
Please note the State’s role in the area below that is highlighted in Green.
Local Government Ethical Standards
It is the intent of the general assembly that the integrity of the processes of local government be secured and protected from abuse. The general assembly recognizes that holding public office and public employment is a public trust and that citizens of Tennessee are entitled to an ethical, accountable and incorruptible government. Accordingly, under T.C.A. § 8-17-103, all counties and instrumentalities of counties, all municipalities and instrumentalities of municipalities, and other entities of local government listed in T.C.A. § 8-17-102, must adopt, no later than June 30, 2007, ethical standards for all officials and employees of such entity. To the extent that an issue covered by an ethical standard is addressed by a law of general application, public law of local application, local option law, or private act, any ethical standard adopted by a governing body shall not be less restrictive than such laws.
If the local government body adopts a model ethical code from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service, or the County Technical Assistance Service, a notice of the adoption of the model code must be filed with the Tennessee Ethics Commission. If the local government body adopts its own ethical standards, a copy of this ethical code must be filed with the Commission.
View lists of government entities that have adopted ethical standards and filed with the Commission:
Under T.C.A. § 8-17-106, the members of the governing body of an entity that is required to adopt ethical standards under §§ 8-17-101 through 8-17-105 are subject to removal from office for the failure to adopt the required ethical code.
Note, however, that the Tennessee Ethics Commission does not have the authority to enforce local government ethical codes, nor does the Commission have any authority to regulate the conduct of local government officials except as relates to the filing of a Statement of Disclosure of Interests.
Below is information on who needs to file the Statement of Disclosure of Interests and the due date.
Public Officials and Candidates Disclosure
Statement of Disclosure of Interest (ss-8005)
Make sure you follow the instructions for YOUR filing status as the rules are different!
Please note that, except for all local elected officials and candidates for local offices, electronic filing is mandatory and paper forms will be returned unless the TEC grants an exception from online filing.
Office Form Number Filing Due Date Filing Method Local Elected Officials SS-8005 File by January 31st Online or By Mail Local Candidates SS-8005 File by 30 days after the last day provided by law for qualifying as a candidate Online or By Mail State Officials including appointees to State positions.View list of state officials SS-8005 File by January 31st Must file online or apply for exemption from online filing Candidates for the General Assembly SS-8005 30 days after the last day provided by law for qualifying as a candidate Must file online or apply for exemption from online filing General Assembly, Governor, Governor’s Cabinet SS-8004 April 15th Must file online or apply for exemption from online filing
- Sworn Disclosure of Consulting Services (ss-8006) Must be filed within 5 days of entering contract.
- Disclosure of Relative Lobbyists (ss-8009) Must be filed annually by February 1st.
- Disclosure of Out of State Consulting Services (ss-8010) Must be filed within 5 days of entering contract and annually by February 1st.