Beginning September 1, 2018, newly elected or appointed county legislative body members will be required to complete orientation training provided by CTAS within 120 days of their election or appointment. T.C.A. § 5-5-113. In addition, those newly elected members will also be required to complete eight hours of continuing education provided or approved by CTAS on an annual basis, including training at conferences and meetings.  Incumbents are exempt from the continuing education requirement unless they are separated from office and then subsequently reelected.  In addition, any commissioner that has served for eight years or more is exempt from the continuing education requirement.

The comptroller will annually publish a list of commissioners and the hours of training required and the hours each commissioner has obtained.

Counties are authorized and encouraged to pay a $600 supplement to commissioners who complete the required training.