# Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-103: Part-time employment > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-103 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-103 - **Heading:** Part-time employment - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 8 / Chapter 35 / Section 8-35-103 ## Text (a) Any person who becomes a part-time employee or who is currently serving as a part-time employee on July 1, 1984, may elect to join the Tennessee consolidated retirement system. The election shall be made in the manner prescribed by the retirement system and shall be filed with the retirement system; provided, that the following employees shall not be eligible for membership: (1) Students; (2) Seasonal or temporary employees under twenty-five (25) years of age; (3) Temporary employees in institutions of higher education; or (4) Substitute teachers, unless such substitutes are under contract and scheduled to work the same time as a regular teacher. (b) The employee's date of membership shall be the date the election is filed with the retirement system and shall be used to determine all rights and benefits under chapters 34-37 of this title. (c) Part-time employees working in institutions of higher education shall be eligible for membership in the optional retirement plan found in chapter 25, part 2 of this title if it is certified by the institution that the employee is a teacher. (d) In cases of doubt as to the classification of an employee, the board of trustees shall determine from objective criteria whether an employee is properly classified. (e) Any retiree-beneficiary who accepts part-time employment with an employer participating in this system will be considered as restored to employment within the meaning of chapter 36, part 8 of this title, regardless of whether such retiree-beneficiary is eligible for membership. Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 962,Secs.s24, s25 eff. 4/27/2016. Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 118,s 6, eff. 4/10/2015. Acts 1977, ch. 400, § 2; T.C.A., § 8-3903(13); Acts 1984, ch. 797, § 3; 1985, ch. 449, § 11; 1991, ch. 378, § 8. (a) Any person who becomes a part-time employee or who is currently serving as a part-time employee on July 1, 1984, may elect to join the Tennessee consolidated retirement system. The election shall be made in the manner prescribed by the retirement system and shall be filed with the retirement system; provided, that the following employees shall not be eligible for membership: (1) Students; (2) Seasonal or temporary employees under twenty-five (25) years of age; (3) Temporary employees in institutions of higher education; or (4) Substitute teachers, unless such substitutes are under contract and scheduled to work the same time as a regular teacher. (1) Students; (2) Seasonal or temporary employees under twenty-five (25) years of age; (3) Temporary employees in institutions of higher education; or (4) Substitute teachers, unless such substitutes are under contract and scheduled to work the same time as a regular teacher. (b) The employee's date of membership shall be the date the election is filed with the retirement system and shall be used to determine all rights and benefits under chapters 34-37 of this title. (c) Part-time employees working in institutions of higher education shall be eligible for membership in the optional retirement plan found in chapter 25, part 2 of this title if it is certified by the institution that the employee is a teacher. (d) In cases of doubt as to the classification of an employee, the board of trustees shall determine from objective criteria whether an employee is properly classified. (e) Any retiree-beneficiary who accepts part-time employment with an employer participating in this system will be considered as restored to employment within the meaning of chapter 36, part 8 of this title, regardless of whether such retiree-beneficiary is eligible for membership. Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 962,Secs.s24, s25 eff. 4/27/2016. Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 118,s 6, eff. 4/10/2015. Acts 1977, ch. 400, § 2; T.C.A., § 8-3903(13); Acts 1984, ch. 797, § 3; 1985, ch. 449, § 11; 1991, ch. 378, § 8. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-101 Eligibility](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-102 Informing new employees of duties and obligations as a condition of employment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-103 Part-time employment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-104 Termination of membership by absence from service - Members serving in armed forces](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-104.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-105 Classification of employees](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-105.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-106 Certain prior class members](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-106.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-107 Temporary employment period](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-107.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-108 Teachers in local retirement systems](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-108.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-109 Membership in retirement system dependent on election by certain officials](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-109.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-110 Service in the general assembly](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-110.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-111 Multiple membership in public retirement systems](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-111.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-112 Membership in retirement system as condition of employment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-112.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-113 Intermittent or periodic service for boards, commissions, committees, councils, etc](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-113.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-35-114 Classification and membership rights to continue as long as member remains in position for which rights originated](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-114.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T8_C35_S8-35-103. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.