reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TN Code § 7-21-102 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 7-21-102. Applicability

 This chapter shall apply to the consolidation and unification of the governmental and corporate functions of a county whose voters have adopted county charter government pursuant to article VII, § 1 of the Constitution of Tennessee, with one (1) or more of the municipalities within that county's boundaries.
TN Code § 7-21-103 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 7-21-103. Liberal Construction — No Effect on Metropolitan Government Act

  It is hereby declared that this chapter is remedial and shall be liberally construed to achieve the purposes stated in this chapter by utilization of the constitutional power granted by the Constitution of Tennessee, Article XI, § 9 with respect to the consolidation of the governmental and corporate functions of a county charter government with one (1) or more of the municipalities within that county's boundaries.   This chapter shall not be, or be construed as, an amendment to, or as a part of, the Metropolitan Government Act, compiled in Chapters 1 8 of this title, but shall be an alternative method to consolidate the governmental and corporate functions of a county government whose charter vests in the county full and complete municipal powers exercisable by home rule, as provided in the Constitution of Tennessee, Article VII, § 1, with one (1) or more municipalities within that county's boundaries, as provided in the Constitution of Tennessee, Article XI, § 9.
TN Code § 7-21-104 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 7-21-104. Chapter Definitions

 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:   “Charter” means a document containing a unified government structure, pursuant to this chapter, that constitutes the fundamental law of the unified government;   “Charter commission” means a commission established to propose the charter to the voters for adoption as provided in this chapter;   “Chief executive officer of the county” means the officer vested by either the county charter or general law with the executive powers of the county government;   “City legislative body” means the city council, board of mayor and aldermen or other body possessing the legislative power and authority of the government of a municipality;   “County” means any county whose voters have adopted a county charter government;   “County legislative body” means that body vested by either the county charter or general law with the legislative powers of the county government;   “Mayor” means such officer vested by either the city charter or general law with the executive powers of a municipality;   “Municipality” means an incorporated city or town located within the boundaries of a county whose voters have adopted a county charter government;   “Participating governmental unit” means a county whose voters have adopted a county charter government or a municipality located within that county's boundaries that has elected to participate in the preparation of a charter pursuant to this chapter;   “Principal city” means that municipality having the largest population of any municipality in a particular county;   “Smaller city” means any municipality within a county other than the principal city;   “Unification” or “unified” means consolidation or consolidated pursuant to this chapter and that power granted by the Constitution of Tennessee, Article XI, § 9 to consolidate any or all of the governmental and corporate functions now, or hereafter, vested in a county government with one (1) or more municipalities located within that county's boundaries;   “Unified government” means the governmental entity created by the unification of the governmental and corporate functions of a charter county government with the governmental and corporate functions of one (1) or more municipalities within that county's boundaries; and   “Unified municipality” means a former municipality that has merged into a unified government pursuant to this chapter.
TN Code § 7-21-105 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 7-21-105. Unified Government Permitted — When — Effect of Unification

  Each county in this state whose voters have adopted a charter form of government and the principal city within its boundaries may create and establish a unified government to perform all of the governmental and corporate functions now, or hereafter authorized to be, performed by the county government and by the government of the principal city in the manner and with the consequences provided for in this chapter. The government of a smaller city within the county may initially or subsequently merge into the unified government by complying with § 7-21-107 or § 7-21-204(c). Any municipality lying in two (2) or more counties may unify with the county in which the majority of its territory lies.   After unification of a charter county government with a municipality, no functions of the governing bodies of the county and the unified municipality, or of the officers of the governing bodies, shall be retained and continued, unless otherwise so provided either in the charter of the unified government or the Constitution of Tennessee.   After the unification, no officer or agency of the county or the unified municipality shall retain any right, power, duty or obligation, unless so provided either in the charter of the unified government or the Constitution of Tennessee; provided, that nothing contained in this chapter shall impair the rights and obligations of notaries public commissioned according to law by the county prior to unification, and such notaries public shall continue to serve for the remainder of their terms as originally commissioned.
TN Code § 7-21-106 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 7-21-106. Creation of Charter Commission — Effect

 When a charter commission shall be created pursuant to this chapter, no municipality shall thereafter be created in the county, unless and until the proposed charter shall have been rejected by voters in a referendum election as provided in this chapter, or unless and until a charter with express provision permitting such municipality shall have been adopted by the voters in a referendum election as provided in this chapter.
TN Code § 7-21-107 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 7-21-107. Smaller Cities — Election to Become Part of Unified Government

 Any smaller city that has elected not to be initially included in a unified government created and established under this chapter may at any time become a part of the unified government under such terms and conditions and by such methods and procedures as may be established in the charter of the unified government, so long as such unification is accomplished in accordance with the Constitution of Tennessee, Article XI, § 9.
TN Code § 7-21-202 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 2 - Unified Government|§ 7-21-202. Expenses of Charter Commission — Funding — Staff — Compensation of Staff and Members

  It is the duty of the county legislative body to appropriate sufficient funds to defray the expenses of the charter commission, which appropriation shall be not less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). Such funds shall be disbursed by the fiscal officer of the county upon appropriate documentation signed by the chair or the secretary of the charter commission.   The charter commission is authorized to employ such staff as may be required to assist in performing its duties, which staff shall be paid compensation as determined by the charter commission within the limits of funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a).   Members of the charter commission shall not receive per diem or other compensation for their services except reimbursement of actual expenses authorized and approved by the charter commission.
TN Code § 7-21-203 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 2 - Unified Government|§ 7-21-203. Information and Assistance From Public Officials

 All public officials shall, upon request, furnish the charter commission with all information and assistance necessary or appropriate for its work.
TN Code § 7-21-301 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 3 - Utility Services|§ 7-21-301. Authority — Administration

   Any unified government created and established under this chapter shall possess all powers, rights, obligations, duties and privileges to provide electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater, solid waste disposal, recycling, energy production or any other utility service as permitted by the charter, collectively referred to as “utility services”, or any combination thereof; but in no event shall any initial charter provision supersede or conflict with § 7-21-206(p).   The powers granted to any unified government in this subsection (a) shall be the exclusive right to perform or provide such utility services within the boundaries of the county and without the boundaries of the county, as permitted by law.   Notwithstanding subdivisions (a)(1) and (2), any utility district created pursuant to chapter 82 of this title or Private Acts of 1959, chapter 175, that is providing service on the effective date of the charter shall possess all powers, rights, obligations, duties and privileges as are granted to it by such public or private act, as may subsequently be amended.      The powers, rights, obligations, duties and privileges granted in subsection (a) shall be exercised and administered through such board or boards, commission or commissions or franchise or franchises as are authorized or established under the charter.   Any such utility board or commission not otherwise established under charter provisions required by § 7-21-206(p), that is created by the legislative body of the unified government, shall be composed of not less than five (5) nor more than nine (9) members who are appointed in accordance with procedures specified in the charter.   The members must be, at a minimum, citizens of the jurisdiction or jurisdictions served by the utility, who are of legal age, and who are not elected officials or employees of any governmental unit or agency within the county. Upon the effective date of the charter, all existing members of utility boards or commissions established under charter provisions required by § 7-21-206(p) shall automatically be appointed to continue to serve the balance of their term of office as provided in such private act or municipal charter provision governing such utility immediately prior to the effective date of the charter.
TN Code § 7-21-302 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 3 - Utility Services|§ 7-21-302. Assumption of Utility Services Provided Within County — Procedure

  Any unified government created and established pursuant to this chapter may at any time assume and take over the utility services provided within its county by any utility service provider created, authorized or owned by any private or public entity located outside such county, referred to as “outside utility service provider”.   In exercising the powers granted in subsection (a), the unified government shall notify any outside utility service provider of its desire to assume responsibility for all or any part of the outside utility service provider's functions, services or duties within the county of the unified government. It shall then be the duty of the outside utility service provider and the unified government to attempt to reach agreement in writing for the allocation to the unified government of any such public functions, services or duties as the unified government may desire to assume, and all related rights, duties, property, assets and liabilities of the outside utility service provider that justice and reason may require under the circumstances. Any matters upon which the respective parties are not in agreement in writing within sixty (60) days after a unified government gives such notice shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the law of arbitration of the state of Tennessee effective at the time of submission to the arbitrators, except that § 29-5-101(2) shall not apply to any arbitration under this section. The award so rendered shall be transmitted to the chancery court of the county of the unified government, and then shall be subject to review in accordance with §§ 29-5-113, 29-5-115 and 29-5-118.
TN Code § 7-21-303 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 3 - Utility Services|§ 7-21-303. Smaller Cities — Utility Services

   Notwithstanding anything in this part to the contrary, no unified government may take over, assume or acquire any powers, rights, obligations, duties and privileges with respect to any utility service created, authorized or owned by a smaller city not electing to merge into the unified government, unless and until the legislative body of such smaller city expressly consents to the acquisition by the unified government.   Express consent shall be evidenced by the execution by the smaller city of a franchise agreement granting to the service provider rights and authority within the boundary of the smaller city, subject to such terms and conditions as may mutually be agreed upon between the smaller city and service provider.      Notwithstanding anything in this part to the contrary, in the event that a unified government shall take over, assume or acquire by any means the assets, property or rights of any utility district located within the county of the unified government and any of such assets, property or rights are located within or relate to any smaller city not electing to unify, the smaller city shall have the right and option to acquire such assets, property or rights as are located within or relate to, or that reasonably and economically cannot be separated from such assets and property, as are located within the smaller city upon assumption by the smaller city of the debts, obligations and liabilities reasonably incurred or related to such property, assets or rights.   If the parties are not in agreement in writing within sixty (60) days after acquisition by the unified government, the matters upon which agreement have not been reached shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the law of arbitration of the state of Tennessee effective at the time of submission to the arbitrators, except that § 29-5-101(2) shall not apply to any arbitration under this section.   The award so rendered shall be transmitted to the chancery court of the county of the unified government and then shall be subject to review in accordance with §§ 29-5-113, 29-5-115 and 29-5-118.
TN Code § 7-21-401 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 4 - Powers and Duties|§ 7-21-401. Powers and Duties — Right to Receive Government Funds — Application of Funds

  Any unified government created and established under this title shall possess all powers, rights, obligations, duties and privileges of county and municipal governments not prohibited by general law or its charter; and, without the necessity or formality of deed, bill of sale or other instrument of transfer, the unified government shall be and become the owner of all property previously belonging to the county and any unified municipality.   Any unified government created and established pursuant to this chapter shall be entitled to receive as state aid or as grant-in-aid from the state of Tennessee or from the United States or from any other agency, public or private, all funds to which a county is, or may hereafter be, entitled and all funds to which each unified municipality is, or may hereafter be, entitled, and to receive the same without diminution or loss by reason of the unification of the governments as provided in this chapter. The application of such funds shall be made as follows:  The unified government shall be deemed a county and shall also be deemed a municipality for the purpose of determining its right to receive, and for the purpose of receiving, state aid or grant-in-aid from the state of Tennessee or from the United States or from any other agency, public or private;   When funds are distributed on the basis of population or area, or both, to any county that has a unified government in effect pursuant to this chapter, then the entire population and the total area of the county shall be considered in calculating and determining the basis of the distribution;   When funds are distributed to any county on the basis of rural area, rural road mileage or rural population, or any combination thereof, then the area to which such funds shall be applied shall exclude such basis attributable to any smaller city located in part or entirely within such county that has not elected to become a part of the unified government; otherwise, such funds shall be applied as determined by the legislative branch of the unified government;   When funds are distributed to any incorporated city or municipality on the basis of population or area, or both, and the unified government is to receive that portion or portions attributable to any unified municipality, the area or population within the county that is also within the boundaries of any smaller city that has not elected to become a part of the unified government shall not be included in determining such basis for the application of such funds; otherwise, the population or the area to be used in determining such basis or to which such funds shall be applied shall be as determined by the legislative branch of the unified government.
TN Code § 7-21-402 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 4 - Powers and Duties|§ 7-21-402. Legislative Branch — Redistricting

 On or before December 31 of the first calendar year following a year of federal decennial census, it is the duty of the legislative branch of the unified government to reapportion or redistrict the seats of the legislative branch and the seats of the board of education of the unified government to comply with constitutional requirements. Districts reapportioned or redistricted under this section shall be relatively compact, undivided, representative of community interests, and as equal in population as reasonably practicable.
TN Code § 7-21-403 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 4 - Powers and Duties|§ 7-21-403. Taxing Authority

  Any unified government created and established pursuant to this chapter shall be authorized and empowered, through its legislative branch, to levy every tax that a county or municipality is now authorized to levy or may hereafter be authorized to levy.   Any tax created, assessed, or levied prior to unification under this chapter by the county or any municipality shall continue unabated in favor of the unified government subsequent to unification of the county and such unified municipality.   The act of unification shall not affect the assessment, levy or collection of any tax within the county adopting unified government under this chapter, unless and until specific action with respect to the assessment, levy or collection of any tax is taken by the legislative body of the unified government.   When the amount of the authorized tax depends upon the population or area of the entire county, without regard to the exclusion of population or area that is or may have been within the boundaries of municipalities within the county, then the entire population and the total area of the county in which such unified government is established shall be determinative of the authorized levy.   The legislative body may create and establish such taxing districts, as in its judgment, are necessary and appropriate to fairly allocate such taxes.
TN Code § 7-21-404 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 4 - Powers and Duties|§ 7-21-404. Special Service Districts

 The legislative branch of the unified government may establish and name such special service districts, as in its judgment, may be necessary or appropriate for the exercise within such district of any one (1) or more of the public corporation rights or powers of the unified government not then being exercised for the benefit of all citizens of the county. All tax levies in special service districts shall be made with due regard for services rendered in the special service districts. The boundaries of special service districts need not be contiguous and may overlap or be coextensive with the boundaries of other special service districts.
TN Code § 7-21-405 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 4 - Powers and Duties|§ 7-21-405. Bonds

 Any unified government created and established pursuant to this chapter may issue bonds under such terms, conditions and limitations as may be prescribed by general law and the charter.
TN Code § 7-21-406 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 7 - Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities|Chapter 21 - Charter Government Unification Act|Part 4 - Powers and Duties|§ 7-21-406. Alcoholic Beverages

 The creation and establishment of unified government under this chapter shall not alter the status of the county, any unified municipality or any smaller city not electing to be included in the unified government as to the legality of the manufacture, receipt, sale, storage, transportation, distribution and possession of alcoholic beverages. Local option elections previously held in the county or unified municipalities or such smaller city to fix such legal status shall continue to control the legal status of alcoholic beverages until the legal status is subsequently altered by a local option election held pursuant to such law. All local option elections with respect to unified governmental entities permitting such legal status of alcoholic beverages, the determination of the geographical areas of same and any other conditions and restrictions shall be as provided in the charter, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary. The unified government hereunder shall have the same power as the county and the unified municipalities previously possessed with respect to the regulation and taxation of the manufacture, distribution and sale of beer or any other alcoholic beverages.