The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office announced in a press release Monday that it has launched a new webpage that will allow Tennessee businesses, governmental entities, or schools to seek an exemption from a new law that prohibits Tennessee businesses from imposing vaccine mandates.
House Bill No. 9077/Senate Bill No. 9014, which was signed into law on Friday, November 12 by Governor Bill Lee, prohibits most Tennessee businesses from imposing a vaccine mandate unless they receive an exemption from the Comptroller’s Office.
According to the statement, “An exemption may be granted by the Comptroller if an applicant can demonstrate that compliance with Chapter 2 or 6 of the new law would result in a loss of federal funding and an exemption is necessary to conform to a federally awarded or amended contract, subcontract, or postsecondary grant.”
The release also notes that exemptions granted by the Comptroller are not permanent and may be renewed for no more than one calendar year.
The webpage set up by the Comptroller’s office, comptroller.tn.gov/covidexemption, allows qualifying entities to begin submitting a notice for exemption to the new law. The site also includes responses to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and a document highlighting the full guidelines for the exemption program.
The guidelines instruct entities wanting an exemption from the law to provide the following information in its notice submitted to the Comptroller:
– Name of the entity;
– First and last name of a contact person affiliated with the entity submitting the notice;
– Contact person’s position or title;
– Entity’s mailing address;
– Contact person’s phone number;
– Contact person’s email address;
– Justification for the exemption, and;
– One or more applicable federal contract numbers and/or other information sufficient to identify the contract, subcontract, or postsecondary grant.
The entity’s Data Universal Numbering System (“DUNS”) number should be provided if applicable.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
