(a) The University of Tennessee is expressly authorized to lease employees to any nonprofit corporation created under Tennessee law for the purpose of operating a hospital with which the university is affiliated through its medical education programs. Employees leased under the authority of this section shall remain eligible for all university benefits for which they are otherwise eligible and shall be subject to termination, layoff, suspension or demotion only in accordance with university personnel policies and procedures.
(b) An agreement for the lease of employees under the authority of subsection (a) shall be subject to the prior approval of the attorney general and reporter as to form and legality.