Section 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

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