§ 39-16-506 — Coercion of employee who is public servant by employer or agent of employer

(a) As used in this section: (1) "Coercion" means a threat, however communicated, to: (A) Commit any offense; (B) Wrongfully accuse any person of any offense; (C) Expose any person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule; (D) Harm the credit or business repute of any person; or (E) Take or withhold action related to the employment of a public servant or a family member of a public servant; (2) "Employee" includes, but is not limited to: (A) A person employed by the state or any municipality, county, department, board, commission, agency, instrumentality, political subdivision, or any other entity of the state; (B) A person employed by a private employer; or (C) A person who receives compensation from the federal government for services performed for the federal government, notwithstanding that the person is not a full-time employee of the federal government; and (3) "Employer" includes, but is not limited to: (A) The state or any municipality, county, department, board, commission, agency, instrumentality, political subdivision, or any other entity of the state; (B) A private employer; or (C) The federal government, as to an employee who receives compensation from the federal government for services performed for the federal government, notwithstanding that the person is not a full-time federal employee. (b) An employer, or an agent of an employer acting on behalf of the employer, commits an offense who by means of coercion: (1) Influences or attempts to influence an employee who is a public servant to vote or not to vote in a particular manner; or (2) Influences or attempts to influence an employee who is a public servant to resign as a public servant or unnecessarily recuse themselves from a public body with the intent to influence the action or inaction of a public body. (c) A violation of this section is a Class E felony.

Legislative History

Added by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1142, s 2, eff. 7/1/2022.