Senate Gives Final Nod to TEAM Act

The Senate took the last vote today Governor Haslam’s TEAM act, which would make big changes to the way the state hires and fires workers.

One of the biggest changes: seniority on the job will no longer be insulation against being laid off. Bill sponsor Jack Johnson, a Williamson County Republican, explains the new system.

“In the event of a reduction in force, what the law is intended to do, is to say that the primary, or the first, thing that will be used to determine who is laid on, in the event of a reduction in force, will be job performance.”

The bill also adds a mediation process that employees may choose instead of a more formal complaint.

Early on, state employees and Democrats attacked the TEAM Act, saying it would roll back protections for state workers. The bill was changed through negotiations with the Legislature, state employees, and the Haslam Administration.

The House passed the bill with 19 Democrats voting against. The Senate passed it 30-3. The bill now heads to Governor Haslam’s desk, for his signature.

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The bill passed the House the yesterday.

This story outlines many of the most important changes in the measure.