Plain English Breakdown
The official source material only expresses legislative intent and does not mandate specific actions or funding levels.
Local Funding for Public Safety Departments
This bill expresses legislative intent that counties prioritize funding for county-wide and volunteer fire departments when allocating local funds.
What This Bill Does
- Expresses the legislative intent that a county with a county-wide fire department should direct priority for appropriation and allocation of county funds to fund the activities of the county-wide fire department, at least equivalent to the level of funding provided by the county for the operation of the sheriff's department.
- Expresses the legislative intent that if a volunteer fire department provides services to all of the county and requests it from the governing body, the county should direct priority for appropriation and allocation of county funds to fund the activities of the volunteer fire department.
Who It Names or Affects
- Counties with established county-wide fire departments or where volunteer fire departments serve the entire county.
Terms To Know
- Volunteer Fire Department
- A fire department recognized by the state and classified as volunteer under the Tennessee Fire Incident Reporting System (TFIRS).
Limits and Unknowns
- The exact amount of increased local expenditures cannot be determined due to multiple variables.
- Article II, Section 24 of the Tennessee Constitution requires that if a law imposes new spending requirements on cities or counties, the state must share in those costs.