# Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-303: Conciliation agreements - Temporary relief > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-303 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-303 - **Heading:** Conciliation agreements - Temporary relief - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 4 / Chapter 21 / Section 4-21-303 ## Text (a) If the staff determines after investigation, or if the commission or its delegate determines after the review provided for in § 4-21-302 that there is reasonable cause to believe that the respondent has engaged in a discriminatory practice, the commission staff shall endeavor to eliminate the alleged discriminatory practices by conference, conciliation and persuasion. (b) The terms of a conciliation agreement reached with a respondent shall require the respondent to refrain from discriminatory practices in the future, and shall make such further provisions as may be agreed upon between the commission or its assigned staff and the respondent. (c) If a conciliation agreement is entered into, the commission shall issue and serve on the complainant an order stating its terms. A copy of the order shall be delivered to the respondent, and such public officers and persons as the commission deems proper. (d) Except for the terms of the conciliation agreement, neither the commission nor any officer or employee thereof shall make public, without the written consent of the complainant and the respondent, information concerning efforts in a particular case to eliminate discriminatory practice by conference, conciliation or persuasion, whether or not there is a determination of reasonable cause or a conciliation agreement. The conciliation agreement itself shall be made public unless the complainant and the respondent otherwise agree, and the commission also determines that disclosure is not required to further the purposes of this chapter. (e) At the expiration of one (1) year from the date of a conciliation agreement, and at other times in its reasonable discretion, the commission staff may investigate whether the terms of the agreement have been and are being complied with by the respondent. (f) Upon finding that the terms of the agreement are not being complied with by the respondent, the commission shall take such action as it deems appropriate to assure compliance. (g) At any time after a complaint is filed, the commission may file an action in the chancery court or circuit court in a county in which the subject of the complaint occurs, or in a county in which a respondent resides or has the respondent's principal place of business, seeking appropriate temporary relief against the respondent, pending final determination of proceedings under the chapter, including an order or decree restraining such respondent from doing or procuring any act tending to render ineffectual any order the commission may enter with respect to the complaint. The court has the power to grant such temporary relief or restraining order as it deems just and proper. Acts 1978, ch. 748, § 18; T.C.A., §§ 4-2116, 4-21-116; Acts 1992, ch. 1027, § 5; 1996, ch. 777, § 1. (a) If the staff determines after investigation, or if the commission or its delegate determines after the review provided for in § 4-21-302 that there is reasonable cause to believe that the respondent has engaged in a discriminatory practice, the commission staff shall endeavor to eliminate the alleged discriminatory practices by conference, conciliation and persuasion. (b) The terms of a conciliation agreement reached with a respondent shall require the respondent to refrain from discriminatory practices in the future, and shall make such further provisions as may be agreed upon between the commission or its assigned staff and the respondent. (c) If a conciliation agreement is entered into, the commission shall issue and serve on the complainant an order stating its terms. A copy of the order shall be delivered to the respondent, and such public officers and persons as the commission deems proper. in the future, and shall make such further provisions as may be agreed upon between the commission or its assigned staff and the respondent. (c) If a conciliation agreement is entered into, the commission shall issue and serve on the complainant an order stating its terms. A copy of the order shall be delivered to the respondent, and such public officers and persons as the commission deems proper. (d) Except for the terms of the conciliation agreement, neither the commission nor any officer or employee thereof shall make public, without the written consent of the complainant and the respondent, information concerning efforts in a particular case to eliminate discriminatory practice by conference, conciliation or persuasion, whether or not there is a determination of reasonable cause or a conciliation agreement. The conciliation agreement itself shall be made public unless the complainant and the respondent otherwise agree, and the commission also determines that disclosure is not required to further the purposes of this chapter. (e) At the expiration of one (1) year from the date of a conciliation agreement, and at other times in its reasonable discretion, the commission staff may investigate whether the terms of the agreement have been and are being complied with by the respondent. (f) Upon finding that the terms of the agreement are not being complied with by the respondent, the commission shall take such action as it deems appropriate to assure compliance. (g) At any time after a complaint is filed, the commission may file an action in the chancery court or circuit court in a county in which the subject of the complaint occurs, or in a county in which a respondent resides or has the respondent's principal place of business, seeking appropriate temporary relief against the respondent, pending final determination of proceedings under the chapter, including an order or decree restraining such respondent from doing or procuring any act tending to render ineffectual any order the commission may enter with respect to the complaint. The court has the power to grant such temporary relief or restraining order as it deems just and proper. Acts 1978, ch. 748, § 18; T.C.A., §§ 4-2116, 4-21-116; Acts 1992, ch. 1027, § 5; 1996, ch. 777, § 1. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-101 Purpose and intent](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-102 Chapter definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-201 Commission created - Members](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-201.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-202 Powers and duties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-202.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-203 Duties and responsibilities of the human rights commission to verify compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-203.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-204 Complaint form](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-204.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-301 Discriminatory practices](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-301.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-302 Complaints - Consideration by commission](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-302.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-303 Conciliation agreements - Temporary relief](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-303.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-304 Hearings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-304.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-305 Findings and orders](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-305.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-306 Remedies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-306.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-307 Judicial review](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-307.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-308 Access to records](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-308.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T4_C21_S4-21-303. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.