NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee is spending millions of dollars to save emails that could potentially become evidence in lawsuits.

WPLN-FM reports (http://bit.ly/1v6OU8e) during recent budget hearings, Department of Children's Services Commissioner Jim Henry said his agency is spending $865,000 to save emails. The expense stems from a 14-year-old federal lawsuit over the state's treatment of children in foster care.

TennCare spokeswoman Kelly Gunderson said that agency spends more than $1 million each year transferring and storing employee emails connected to about 20 lawsuits.

Michele Johnson is the executive director of the Tennessee Justice Center, which has sued the state on behalf of TennCare patients. She defended the need for the email storage.

While it may be expensive, she said it's necessary to guarantee that state agencies are not destroying potential evidence.