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Contact information for APD is provided here
Cases are opened with the Administrative Procedures Division (APD) by the state or local government agency for whom APD is hearing the case. An individual or business who wants to appeal a government agency’s ruling will file an appeal with that agency. The agency then refers that appeal to APD. Individuals do not open cases directly with APD.
- For example, if a property owner wants to appeal their county property tax, the owner will file an appeal with the respective county’s board of equalization. If the property owner wants to appeal further, beyond the county, then the property owner will file an appeal with the State Board of Equalization. It is the State Board of Equalization that then refers the appeal and opens a case with APD.
- For another example, if someone is denied coverage of a medical service by TennCare and wants to appeal that denial, that individual will appeal to TennCare. TennCare will then refer the appeal and open a case with APD.
- There are two exceptions to this process: 1) an individual property owner and a municipality disagree as to whether the property has been annexed by the municipality (TCA 8-3-102). For these cases, the property owner or the municipality may file a complaint against the opposing party with the secretary of state. 2) a public official challenges a fraudulent lien against his or her property (TCA 47-9-513). For these cases, the office where the lien is being filed forwards the challenge to APD.
Generally, APD gets its authority from the Tennessee General Assembly through the laws they adopt, specifically the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act (UAPA) (Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-5-101, et seq.) In addition, many Tennessee statutes require state agencies to comply with the UAPA in conducting certain types of cases. For example, the TEAM Act requires that certain state employee disciplinary cases be conducted in accordance with the UAPA (Tenn. Code Ann. §8-30-318) and the Department of Safety and Homeland Security must conduct procedures about property that might be forfeited to the State under the provisions of the UAPA (Tenn. Code Ann. §8-30-318). APD also contracts with local governments to conduct employee disciplinary proceedings and with colleges and universities to hold hearings required by Title IX.
If you want to appeal the decision made in your case, then you should follow the instructions given here and as attached to your order.
If you are concerned about the ethics, demeanor, or conduct of APD employees, including APD support staff or ALJs, then please send your complaint in writing to the Director of APD.
- Prohibits entities from denying an individual any service, financial aid, or other benefit because of race, color or national origin.
- Prohibits entities from providing a different service or benefit or providing these in a different manner from those provided to others under the program.
- Prohibits segregation or separate treatment in any manner related to receiving program services or benefits.
- Prohibits entities from requiring different standards or conditions as prerequisites for serving individuals.
- Encourages the participation of minorities as members of planning or advisory bodies for programs receiving federal funds.
- Prohibits discriminatory activity in a facility built in whole or part with Federal funds.
- Requires information and services to be provided in languages other than English when significant numbers of beneficiaries are of limited English speaking ability.
- Requires entities to notify the respective population about applicable programs.
- Prohibits locating facilities in any way that would limit or impede access to a Federally funded service or benefit.
- Requires assurance of nondiscrimination in purchasing of services.
APD is a division of the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office, which is within the Legislative Branch of Tennessee state government. APD employs a central panel of judges who are independent of the Executive Branch and the agencies whose cases are heard before them. This independence ensures that an extra layer of due process protection is afforded to all parties involved in each case.
- State and local government: Agencies distributing federal assistance or entities distributing federal assistance to the state or local government entity.
- Higher education: college, university, or other post-secondary institution
- Local education agency or system of vocational education, or other school system
- An entire corporation, partnership, or other private organization, or an entire sole proprietorship
- The entire plant or private corporation or other organization which is a geographically separate facility to which federal financial assistance is extended.
Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act says, ”No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” 42 U.S.C.§2000d
APD is partially funded through the Secretary of State’s budget as allocated by the Tennessee General Assembly. In addition, APD charges government agencies $200 to open a case and $100 per hour, after the first two hours, for a judge’s time spent on an individual case. Each government agency and type of case may have specific rules that determine if and how that government agency may recoup some of the costs of a case from the other party.
- Does not apply to Federal assistance provided through insurance or guaranty contracts, (e.g. FHA loan insurance).
- Does not apply to employment, except where employment practices result in discrimination against program beneficiaries or where the purpose of the Federal assistance is to provide employment.
- Does not apply to direct benefit programs such as Social Security.
- Does not apply only to contracts and set-aside programs.
If you are a party in the case, please email apd.filings@tnsos.gov with your request. If you are not a party in the case, then you can submit a public records request.
APD considers cases from most state agencies, various city and county governmental agencies, and state universities resulting in over 430 different types of cases. On average over 8,100 cases are referred to APD each year. The majority of these cases involve property tax appeals, TennCare appeals, and appeals from the seizure of an individual’s assets.
For some questions you may have regarding your case, you may be instructed that your question is better directed to the government agency that is the opposing party in your case rather than to APD. You should direct those questions to the opposing attorney who represents the government agency or contact the government agency using the contact information contained in your Notice of Hearing or Notice of Hearing and Charges.
One example may be a question regarding how you are to pay the cost for your case. APD charges each government agency based upon the hours spent on each case. Each government agency has different rules and policies on if they can then in turn charge the petitioner. If you have been billed for your case, you would have been billed by the government agency involved in your case, not by APD. Questions regarding those charges should, therefore, be addressed to the government agency involved in your case.
Title VI is a mechanism that directs the federal financial assistance, which drives or promotes economic development. By legislative mandate, Title VI examines the following public policy issues:
- Accessibility for all persons
- Infrastructure development
- Accountability in public funds expenditures
- Minority participation in decision making
- Disparate impact
- Program service delivery
- Economic empowerment
- Public-Private partnerships in part or whole with public funds
- Environmental Justice
- Site and location of facilities
Yes, however, in the case of events to which tickets are being donated to a charitable organization, the professional solicitor is responsible for attaining a written commitment from the charitable organization stating that they will accept donated tickets and specifying the number of tickets they are willing to accept. No more contributions for donated tickets that will be accepted may be solicited by the professional solicitor.
"Professional solicitor" means any person who, for a financial or other consideration, solicits contributions for, or on behalf of, a charitable organization, whether such solicitation is performed personally or through such person's agents, servants or employees or through agents, servants or employees specially employed by or for a charitable organization, who are engaged in the solicitation of contributions under the direction of such person, or a person who plans, conducts, manages, carries on or advises a charitable organization in connection with the solicitation of contributions. Any independent marketing agent or entity to whom a professional solicitor assigns fundraising or solicitation responsibilities shall be deemed to be a professional solicitor for purposes of this part. A salaried officer or permanent employee of a charitable organization is not deemed to be a professional solicitor. However, any salaried officer or employee of a charitable organization that engages in the solicitation of contributions for compensation in any manner for more than one (1) charitable organization is deemed a professional solicitor. A professional solicitor does not include an attorney, investment counselor, or banker who in the conduct of such person's profession advises a client. See T.C.A. §48-101-501(7).
To ensure the broad, institution wide application of Title VI and other civil rights statutes Congress passed The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987. This act clarifies the definition of “programs and activities” covered by the nondiscrimination provisions of civil rights statutes. The revised definition states that discrimination is prohibited throughout an entire agency or institution, if any part of that agency or institution receives Federal financial assistance.
Examples:
- (A) a department, agency, special purpose district, or other instrumentality of a state or local government; or (B) the entity of such state or local government that distributes such assistance and each such department or agency (and each other state or local government entity) to which the assistance is extended, in the case of assistance to a state or local government;
- (A) a college, university, or other postsecondary institution, or a public system of education; or system of vocational education, or other school system.
Title VI applies to discrimination throughout an agency, not just to actions involving the federally assisted program. Therefore, if an agency receives any federal financial assistance for any program or activity the entire agency is required to comply with Title VI, not just that particular program. Example: The Harriet Tubman Express program receives money from HUD, the agency /division that Harriet Tubman Express programs are under (Health Services) must also be in compliance with Title VI rules and regulations.
Federal financial assistance means more than just money. It is also aid that enhances the ability to improve or expand allocation of a recipient’s own resources.
Examples:
- Student aid (releases recipient’s funds for other uses)
- Training of employees (permits better use of the employer)
- Grants and Loans, tax-exempt bonds
- Property
- Loan of Personnel
- Tax incentives and tax-exempt status
- Technical assistance, etc.
Yes, a professional solicitor shall, prior to orally requesting a contribution and at the same time a written request for a contribution is made, clearly and conspicuously disclose at the point of solicitation the solicitor’s name as on file with the Division of Charitable Solicitation and Gaming and that the solicitation is being conducted by a “paid solicitor”. In the case of a solicitation campaign conducted orally, professional solicitors are required to send written confirmation to each person who has contributed or pledged to contribute within five (5) days after that person has been solicited. The written confirmation shall include the above disclosure.
A commercial co-venturer is any person who is organized for profit; is regularly and primarily engaged in trade or commerce, other than in connection with soliciting for charitable or civic organizations or charitable purposes; and conducts an advertised charitable sales promotion for a specific limited period of time. The charitable organization being promoted by the co-venturer must be duly registered or be exempt from registration with the Division of Charitable Solicitations. Commercial co-venturers are required to have a written agreement with the charitable organization on whose behalf the sales promotion is to be conducted. Such co-venturers are also required to keep all records in connection with the charitable sales promotion for no less than three (3) years after the end date of the promotion.
"Professional fundraising counsel" means any person who, for compensation, plans, manages, advises, consults, or prepares material for a charitable organization for the solicitation of contributions in this state, but who does not solicit contributions and does not employ, procure, or engage any person to solicit contributions on behalf of a charitable organization. "Professional fundraising counsel" does not include an attorney, investment counselor, bona fide salaried officer, employee, volunteer, or banker who in the conduct of such person's profession advises a client. See T.C.A. §48-101-501(6).