2-19-207 - Political activity interfering with state business.
2-19-207. Political activity interfering with state business.
(a) It is unlawful for any person employed by the state to engage actively in a political campaign on behalf of any party, committee, organization, agency or political candidate, or to attend political meetings or rallies or to otherwise use such person's official position or employment to interfere with or affect the result of any regular or special primary election conducted within the state, or to perform political duties or functions of any kind not directly a part of such person's employment, during those hours of the day when such person is required by law or administrative regulation to be conducting the business of the state.
(b) (1) Nothing in this section shall be construed to deprive any official or employee of the state from voting for the party or candidate of such person's choice or to deprive such person of the right to express such person's personal opinion concerning any political subject, party or candidate.
(2) Elected officials, state employees on leave or during those hours not required by law or administrative regulation to be conducting the business of the state, persons duly qualified as candidates for public office and teachers, as defined in § 49-1501 [repealed], are expressly excluded from the provisions of this section.
(3) No rule or regulation which has been promulgated or shall be promulgated by any department, division, agency, or bureau of state government shall be more restrictive of the political activity of state employees on leave or during those hours not required by law or administrative regulation to be conducting the business of the state than those restrictions already set forth in this section.
[Acts 1972, ch. 740, § 1; T.C.A., § 2-1942; Acts 1982, ch. 822, § 1.]