Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-6-205: Approval of commitment

The admissions review committee shall approve continued hospitalization by a vote of at least three (3) of its members. The committee may recommend the person's continued hospitalization for a period not to exceed six (6) months. If the committee does not approve continued hospitalization, the person shall be released, unless, prior to the committee's decision, a petition for judicial hospitalization has been filed under chapter 6, part 5 of this title.