Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-7-234

Notwithstanding §§ 8-7-230 and 8-7-231, if a district attorney general having a vacant criminal investigator position appoints a licensed attorney to that position and designates that person to serve as an assistant district attorney general, the appointee may, on the recommendation of the hiring district attorney general and with the approval of the executive committee of the Tennessee district attorneys general conference, be compensated as an assistant district attorney general as provided for in § 8-7-227.