II
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. J. RES. 166
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JULY 31, 1996
Received
JOINT RESOLUTION
Granting the consent of Congress to the Mutual Aid Agree-
ment between the city of Bristol, Virginia, and the city
of Bristol, Tennessee.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
HJ 166 RDS
SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL CONSENT.
The Congress consents to the Mutual Aid Agreement
entered into between the city of Bristol, Virginia, and the
city of Bristol, Tennessee. The agreement reads as follows:
‘‘THIS MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT, made and
entered into by and between the CITY OF BRISTOL
VIRGINIA, a municipality incorporated under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Virginia (hereinafter ‘Bristol Vir-
ginia’); and the CITY OF BRISTOL TENNESSEE, a
municipality incorporated under the laws of the State of
Tennessee (hereinafter ‘Bristol Tennessee’).
‘‘WITNESSETH:
‘‘WHEREAS, Section 15.1–131 of the Code of Vir-
ginia and Sections 6–54–307 and 12–9–101 et seq. of the
Tennessee Code Annotated authorize Bristol Virginia and
Bristol Tennessee to enter into an agreement providing
for mutual law enforcement assistance;
‘‘WHEREAS, the two cities desire to avail themselves
of the authority conferred by these respective laws;
‘‘WHEREAS, it is the intention of the two cities to
enter into mutual assistance commitments with a pre-de-
termined plan by which each city might render aid to the
other in case of need, or in case of an emergency which
demands law enforcement services to a degree beyond the
existing capabilities of either city; and,
HJ 166 RDS
‘‘WHEREAS, it is in the public interest of each city
to enter into an agreement for mutual assistance in law
enforcement to assure adequate protection for each city.
‘‘NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of
the mutual promises and the benefits to be derived there-
from, the City of Bristol Virginia and the City of Bristol
Tennessee agree as follows:
‘‘1. Each city will respond to calls for law en-
forcement assistance by the other city only upon re-
quest for such assistance made by the senior law en-
forcement officer on duty for the requesting city, or
his designee, in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. All requests for law enforcement assist-
ance shall be directed to the senior law enforcement
officer on duty for the city from which aid is re-
quested.
‘‘2. Upon request for law enforcement assist-
ance as provided in Paragraph 1, the senior law en-
forcement officer on duty in the responding city will
authorize a response as follows:
‘‘a. The responding city will attempt to
provide at least the following personnel and
equipment in response to the request:
‘‘(1) A minimum response of one vehi-
cle and one person.
HJ 166 RDS
‘‘(2) A maximum response of fifty
percent (50%) of available personnel and
resources.
‘‘b. The response will be determined by the
severity of the circumstances in the requesting
city which prompted such request as determined
by the senior law enforcement officer on duty in
the responding city after discussion with the
senior law enforcement officer on duty in the
requesting city. Any decision reached by such
senior officer of the responding city as to such
response shall be final.
‘‘c. If an emergency exists in the respond-
ing city at the time the request is made, or if
such an emergency occurs during the course of
responding to a request under this Agreement,
and if the senior law enforcement officer on
duty in the responding city reasonably deter-
mines, after a consideration of the severity of
the emergency in his jurisdiction, that the re-
sponding city cannot comply with the minimal
requirements under this Agreement without en-
dangering life or incurring significant property
damage in his city, or both, he may choose to
use all equipment and personnel in his own ju-