(a) Each person appointed to serve as an administrative hearing officer shall, within the six-month period immediately following the date of such appointment, participate in a program of training conducted by the University of Tennessee's municipal technical advisory service, referred to in this part as MTAS. MTAS shall issue a certificate of participation to each person whose attendance is satisfactory. The curricula for the initial training shall be developed by MTAS with input from the administrative procedures division, office of the Tennessee secretary of state. MTAS shall offer this program of training no less than twice per calendar year.

(b) Each person actively serving as an administrative hearing officer shall complete six (6) hours of continuing education every calendar year. MTAS shall develop the continuing education curricula and offer that curricula for credit no less than twice per calendar year. The education required by this section shall be in addition to any other continuing education requirements required for other professional licenses held by the individuals licensed under this part. No continuing education hours from one (1) calendar year may be carried over to a subsequent calendar year.

(c) MTAS has the authority to set and enact appropriate fees for the requirements of this section. A municipality shall bear the cost of the fees for administrative hearing officers serving their jurisdiction.

(d) Costs pursuant to this section shall be offset by fees enacted.