NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal that seeks to regulate charter schools' use of non-immigrant foreign workers has passed the Senate.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro was approved 18-13 on Thursday. A House floor vote on the companion bill was delayed until next week.

Under the proposal, a chartering authority may not approve a charter school application if the proposed charter school plans to hire a certain number of foreign workers from H1B or J-1 visa programs.

Republican Sen. Stacey Campfield of Knoxville called the measure discriminatory and says it prevents charter schools from employing the "best and the brightest" who may be legal residents.

However, Ketron said the measure is intended to encourage charter schools to hire from within Tennessee first.