reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TN Code § 54-5-123 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-123. Sums Withheld — Final Settlement

  From the three and one half percent (3 ½%) retained on any contract executed prior to August 2005, that is being closed and to the extent the funds are due the contractor, the department shall withhold from the contractor a sum sufficient to pay all claims, of which notice is appropriately filed with the department, for a period of sixty (60) days from the date of the last advertising, to allow claimants to sue and prove their claims against the contractor or its agent, in some court of competent jurisdiction. In the event a civil action is brought against the contractor by any claimant within sixty (60) days from the day of the last advertising, the department shall pay the amount of the claim into court from any funds of the contractor the department is holding, if any. But in all cases where civil actions are not brought within sixty (60) days, the department shall pay any sums being held by the department, if any, to the contractor. No civil action shall be valid unless it is filed after the filing of a notice of claim with the department in accordance with § 54-5-122.   On the date set for full and final settlement with the contractor, the contractor may make proper refunding bond to the state for the amount of any sum or sums so held for the period of sixty (60) days, the bond to be approved by the department, whereupon it shall pay the contractor in full.
TN Code § 54-5-124 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-124. Civil Actions Against Contractors by Claimants

  All civil actions against contractors brought by any claimant shall make the commissioner a defendant to the action by issuance of process from the county where the civil action was filed to the county of the defendant, and they shall be brought in the county where the main office of the department is situated or in any county in which any part of the work was prosecuted. In the event that the department is not holding sums due a contractor described in § 54-5-123(a) or upon payment of the amount specified in subsection (b), upon request by the commissioner, the commissioner shall be dismissed as a party.   When a civil action has been properly brought, in the event the department is holding any amount due a contractor described in § 54-5-123(a), the amount or the amount of the claim, whichever is less, shall be paid into court.
TN Code § 54-5-125 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-125. Dismissal of Suit as to Commissioner — Oath of Claimant — More Than One Claimant

  The petition shall be signed by the commissioner, or by the attorney for the department for the commissioner; and upon the filing of the petition accompanied by payment, the suit shall be dismissed as to the commissioner as a matter of right, the sum paid into court as to the plaintiff or claimant standing in lieu and as a satisfaction of the contractor's bond and a fulfillment of the duties of the department to the claimant or plaintiff.   No claimant shall file a claim with the department without verifying the claim by oath.   Where more than one (1) claimant files suit in the same court, the commissioner may embrace in one (1) petition the names of the claimants, the aggregate amounts of their claims, etc., accompanying the petition with photostats, and making payment by one (1) voucher to cover the whole.
TN Code § 54-5-126 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-126. Judge Hearing Suit — Procedure

  Where suit is brought by any claimant or claimants before a judge of the court of general sessions, the voucher or warrant shall be payable to the order of the judge before whom the suit is pending, but no judge shall endorse or have cashed the voucher or warrant until the disposition of the case or cases pending, when the judge may endorse and deliver the voucher or warrant to the party entitled to the voucher or warrant, or endorse and cash the voucher or warrant for the purpose of distribution of the proceeds to the parties entitled to the proceeds.   In all instances where the commissioner's decision is appealed unless the voucher or warrant is endorsed and cashed for the purposes of partial distribution, the judge shall endorse the voucher or warrant to the circuit court clerk on appeal and transmit it with the appeal papers.   Where the judge endorses and cashes the voucher or warrant for partial distribution, if any one (1) of several claimants appeals to the circuit court, the appellant shall transmit, with the appeal papers, cash equal to the amount of the claim concerning which the appeal or appeals are taken.
TN Code § 54-5-127 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-127. Final Judgment in Suit — Pro Rata Payments — Interest

  Upon final disposition of any case where suit is brought by a claimant or claimants, the court making final order and determination shall direct to be paid, and the judge of the court of general sessions or clerk shall pay, the sum or sums paid into court by the commissioner to the parties entitled to the sum or sums under the decree or judgment of the court.   In any instance when the aggregate of the claims filed with the commissioner in due time exceeds the aggregate retained or contract amounts due the contractor, the commissioner, in making payments into court as provided in subsection (a), if any, shall make the same on a pro rata basis.   A contractor shall be entitled to recover from the claimant, upon cross-petition duly filed, interest at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum, on so much of any money withheld from the contractor on account of any claim or part of the claim as is disallowed by the court, the interest to run from the date of settlement with the contractor to the date an order of the court is entered directing the disposition of funds paid into the court by the commissioner.
TN Code § 54-5-128 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-128. Prison Labor — Using — Purchasing Equipment

  Where satisfactory bids cannot be secured, or where, in the judgment of the department, it is more feasible to execute any work by prison labor or free labor, authority is given the department to use prison labor, either state or county, or free labor, and to purchase equipment necessary to carry on the work; provided, that the inmates shall be available by law at the time and satisfactory arrangements can be made by which they may be used.   When work is executed by means of labor of state inmates, the commissioner shall pay for the labor on the highway work according to rules and regulations prescribed by law and the state authorities, who may furnish the inmates, and, if the inmates so used are county inmates, the county authorities controlling the inmates shall receive pay for the labor at the price to be agreed upon by the commissioner and the respective county officials authorized to furnish the labor.   In case the commissioner is not able to make satisfactory arrangements to construct the highways with state or county inmate labor or by contract with other parties, then the commissioner is empowered to build and construct the highways, either on force account by contract or in a manner deemed advisable by the commissioner.
TN Code § 54-5-129 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-129. Commissioner Financing Improvements of Section of State Highway System — Funds to Be Repaid Without Interest

 If any county, county commission or road board, district, city, town, person or corporation desires immediately to improve any section of the state highway system as designated and established by the commissioner, the commissioner may enter into an agreement with the county, county commission, or road board, district, city, or town officials, or other parties, to finance the construction or reconstruction of the highway or section of the highway, and any funds advanced to the commissioner pursuant to the agreement shall be repaid without interest, as and when the general assembly may provide the funds, and the commissioner may apportion the funds for the improvement.
TN Code § 54-5-130 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-130. Counties Required to Contribute Proportionally for Construction of Highways

 The commissioner has the power, within reasonable discretion, to require of any county where a road or roads are to be built to contribute its fair proportion of the funds necessary to construct the highway, but in no case more than fifty percent (50%) shall be required.
TN Code § 54-5-131 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-131. Public Hearings

  State highway projects funded totally from state appropriations shall be subject to public hearings only in the following instances:  The commissioner determines that the public interest would be served if a public hearing was held; or   The commissioner determines that the project:  Requires the acquisition of significant amounts of right-of-way; or   Substantially changes the layout or function of connecting roadways or of the project roadway.       The department shall hold the hearings at convenient locations before plans for the project are finally adopted, and shall consider the economic and social effects of the proposed location of the proposed highway, as well as its impact on the environment, and its consistency with the goals and objectives of any urban planning as may have been adopted by the community.
TN Code § 54-5-133 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-133. Eradication and Control of Noxious Weeds

 The commissioner shall adequately eradicate or control, or both, by chemical or other means, noxious weeds growing on state highway rights-of-way whenever areas adjacent to the rights-of-way are determined by the commissioner of agriculture, in accordance with § 43-1-106, to be row crop areas or grassland areas.
TN Code § 54-5-134 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-134. Cutting Hay Along Controlled Access Highway Right-of-Way

   Residents of the state who derive a significant portion of their annual income by farming may petition the department for permission to cut and bale hay along the rights-of-way of interstate highways located within the state, and other controlled access highway facilities located within the state, whether totally or partially controlled; provided, that the hay is to be used for personal farming purposes and may not be sold.   The commissioner is authorized to grant permission upon individual request.      In order to promote the safety of motorists and persons engaged in cutting and baling activity, the commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations regarding the granting of permission and the performance of the cutting and baling activity.   These rules and regulations shall include:  Restrictions on the hours and days during which cutting and baling activity may be performed;   Restrictions on the areas in which cutting and baling activity may be performed; and   Any other reasonable measures designed to minimize the possibility of traffic mishaps resulting from cutting, baling, and hauling of the hay.       The commissioner shall require that any individual granted a cutting permit possess, during the cutting and baling operation, minimum liability insurance in the amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for bodily injury or death to any one (1) person in a single accident, plus one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for bodily injury or death to two (2) or more persons in a single accident, plus ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for injury to or destruction of property in a single accident.   No fee relative to petitioning for permission or engaging in the cutting and baling activity shall be charged.
TN Code § 54-5-135 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-135. “Buy America” Act

  No agency or entity of state, county, or municipal government in the state shall purchase any materials used for highway or roadway construction, resurfacing, or maintenance from any foreign government, or any company wholly owned and controlled by a foreign government, regardless of the location of the company, or from any agency of the foreign government or company.   As used in this section, “materials” includes, but is not limited to, asphalt cement, asphalt emulsion, rock, aggregate, liquid and solid additives, sealers and oils.   This section shall not apply:  If the materials are not produced by American companies in sufficient and reasonably available quantities, and are of satisfactory quality; or   If the American materials increase the overall project cost for which these materials are purchased by five percent (5%) more than the overall project cost using materials produced by a foreign government owned company.
TN Code § 54-5-136 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-136. Personal Property Encroachments on Rights-of-Way

   The department is authorized to remove, store, sell and dispose of personal property encroachments on the rights-of-way of highways under its jurisdiction at the expense of the owner.  If the encroachment presents an immediate danger to the traveling public, the department may remove the encroachment without prior notice to the owner. If the owner's name and address can be ascertained by reasonable inquiry after removal, the department shall give the owner notice, by certified mail, within ten (10) calendar days of removal.   If the encroachment does not present an immediate danger to the traveling public and the owner's name and address can be ascertained by reasonable inquiry, the department shall give the owner ten (10) calendar days' notice, by certified mail, of its intent to remove the encroachment at the owner's expense. The ten-day period shall run from the fourth day after the mailing of the notice. Upon expiration of that period, the department may remove the encroachment.     The owner of personal property encroaching on the right-of-way of a highway under the jurisdiction of the department shall be liable for any damages caused to the department or to third parties by the encroaching property.   The department does not have a duty to find or remove personal property encroachments on the rights-of-way under its jurisdiction. If the department receives actual notice that an encroachment presents a hazard to those traveling on the adjacent roadway, the department shall, if the owner's name and address can be ascertained by reasonable inquiry, notify the owner of the property and instruct the property owner to remove the encroachment immediately. The notice shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. After notice, or if unable to locate the owner's name and address after reasonable inquiry, the department may remove the encroachment pursuant to subdivision (a)(1).      If removed property is declared by the department to have value to the public and is capable of transport by ordinary means, it shall be stored on department property for thirty (30) days, during which time the owner may claim the property after paying related expenses incurred by the department.   If the property is not so claimed, then it shall be offered for sale to the public after notice posted in the county courthouse of the county in which the property was located prior to removal.   The owner shall be entitled to the proceeds of any sale, less costs, if claimed within one (1) year following the sale; otherwise, the proceeds shall vest in the department and become part of the highway fund to defray expenses in carrying out this section.     If removed property is declared to have no value to the public or not purchased at public sale, or the property is incapable of removal by ordinary means, it shall vest in the department to be disposed of as it determines.
TN Code § 54-5-137 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-137. Elimination of Hazardous Right-of-Way Conditions

 It is the intent of the department to make reasonable efforts to eliminate conditions on highway rights-of-way that are hazardous to an adjoining landowner's health, welfare and safety.
TN Code § 54-5-138 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-138. Contracts for Mowing Rights-of-Way, and Litter Collection

  Notwithstanding other law to the contrary, for contracts for the mowing of rights-of-way and litter collection, or either of them, bids may be accompanied by letters of credit in the amount of five percent (5%) of the bid, in lieu of proper bonds, to guarantee execution of the contract.   All contractors with whom contracts are made for the mowing of rights-of-way and litter collection, or either of them, may provide, in lieu of bonds, letters of credit guaranteeing the department alone the faithful discharge of the contract, and for no other reason.
TN Code § 54-5-139 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-139. Maintenance Contracts With Counties

  The commissioner may enter into a contract with a qualified county to perform maintenance activities upon the rights-of-way of state highways located outside municipalities and metropolitan governments.   The department of transportation shall reimburse the county on an actual cost basis.
TN Code § 54-5-140 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-140. Improvements by Local Governments — Approval — Maintenance

  Cities, counties and metropolitan governments are authorized, within their respective jurisdictions, to make improvements to existing highways on the system of state highways, or to construct additions to the system, with the approval of the commissioner. The work may be accomplished by qualified persons provided by the city, county, or metropolitan government, or by contracts with qualified contractors.   When the work provided for in subsection (a) is undertaken, the commissioner shall have the authority to approve the plans and specifications for conformity to state standards. Following completion of the construction in conformity with the plans and specifications, the department shall assume responsibility for the maintenance of the highways.
TN Code § 54-5-141 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-141. Highway Rights-of-Way — Retention for Scenic or Environmental Purposes

 The department shall consider whether highway rights-of-way are suitable for retention in order to restore, preserve, or improve the scenic beauty and environmental quality adjacent to the highway, prior to declaring the rights-of-way surplus and conveying them for uses other than highways. The department is encouraged to retain, rather than dispose of, its interests in these rights-of-way.
TN Code § 54-5-142 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-142. Designation of Bicycle Routes

 The commissioner may designate and appropriately mark on appropriate state highways, or portions of state highways, routes for the use of bicycles.
TN Code § 54-5-143 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-143. Welcome Signs

  The department of transportation is directed to include the language “The Volunteer State” on all highway signs welcoming visitors to the state. The language shall be added to the signs whenever the signs are replaced or modified for another purpose.   Notwithstanding any rule, regulation or law to the contrary, a city, county or metropolitan “welcome” sign erected on a state right-of-way prior to February 14, 1994, shall not be required to be removed, relocated or dismantled by the department of transportation. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude a city, county or metropolitan government from entering into an agreement with the department to remove, relocate or dismantle a “welcome” sign.
TN Code § 54-5-144 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 54-5-144. Memorial to Fallen Tennessee National Guardsman

 Any segment or structure named on State Route 840, the “Tennessee National Guard Parkway” as designated by chapter 35 of the Public Acts of 2005, shall be dedicated as a memorial to a fallen Tennessee national guardsman.
TN Code § 54-5-201 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 2 - Municipal Streets|§ 54-5-201. State Highways Routed Through Municipalities — Contracting Regarding Rights-of-Way

  The department shall construct, reconstruct and improve streets and maintain the streets in municipalities over which traffic on state highways is routed; or enter into contracts with the municipalities in the state regarding the construction, reconstruction and improvement of streets and maintenance of the streets in municipalities over which traffic on state highways is routed, and is authorized to enter into contracts with municipalities regarding the acquisition of rights-of-way for those streets, and is authorized to expend state or federal funds, or both, in carrying out this section; provided, that where any federal funds are used in the construction or reconstruction of any street, the municipality shall first agree to comply with, and conform to, all federal and state requirements with reference to traffic regulations and street markings.    The state shall pay all the costs for any highway or parts of the highway designated and adopted by the department as and for a state or state and federal aid highway in the state's system of highways; provided, that a municipality may contribute sums that may be approved by its governing body to the cost.   No municipality shall be required to pay or enter into an agreement to pay any part of the costs.   However, the state's obligation for maintenance of its system of highways shall be governed by those limitations now set out by law, it being the intent of this section neither to enlarge nor to diminish present obligations for this maintenance.
TN Code § 54-5-202 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 54 - Highways, Bridges and Ferries|Chapter 5 - State Highways|Part 2 - Municipal Streets|§ 54-5-202. Width and Character of Highways in Municipalities

 The streets constructed, reconstructed, improved and maintained by the state shall be of a width and type that the department deems proper, but the width so constructed, reconstructed, improved and maintained shall not be less than eighteen feet (18'); and, in the case of resurfacing and maintenance, from curb to curb where curbs exist, or the full width of the roadway where no curbs exist.