Digital Commons Network^™

Hot Topic: Revised: Attention All Cities With Fewer Than 50 Employees With Commercial Drivers' Licenses, Drug Testing Deadline Looms For Employees With Commercial Drivers' Licenses, Mtas

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

Discusses the Jan. 1, 1996 federal deadline for instituting drug and alcohol testing for cities with fewer than 50 employees who are required to have commercial drivers' licenses (CDLs).

Hot Topic: New Domestic Abuse Statute Mandates Arrests In Domestic Abuse Situations, Rex Barton

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The legislature intends that the official response to domestic abuse stresses enforcing the laws to protect the victim. Therefore, after July 1, 1995, the preferred response in a domestic abuse case is to arrest the primary aggressor, according to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6.

Hot Topic: Public Acts Affecting Cities, Todd Moore

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The recently concluded session of the Tennessee General Assembly resulted in several measures passing that affect municipalities in the state. This Hot Topic summarizes some of these acts. However, do not rely solely on these summaries before giving advice or taking action. Refer to the act itself Next month, MTAS will publish the complete 1995 Summary of Public Acts.

Hot Topic: Deadlines For Certification Of Building And Fire Inspectors, Ray Crouch

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

All deadlines for building and fire inspector certification went into effect July 1, 1995. The state Fire Marshals' Office intends to enforce this new law.

Hot Topic: 1995-96 State Revenue Estimates, Ken Joines, Jim Leuty

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The Tennessee General Assembly adopted the state budget for fiscal year 1996 in late May.

Hot Topic: Charters Change For Three Types Of General Law Cities: Mayor-Aldermanic, Uniform City Manager-Commission And Modified City Manager-Council, Mtas

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

Effective immediately upon its signing Mar. 17 [1995] by Gov. Sundquist, a new law made two significant changes in the uniform city manager-commission charter.

1. The first change reduced the number of required readings of an ordinance from three to two.

2. The second change deleted the provision that all powers enumerated under the charter had to be performed by ordinance.

The rest of the charter changes made by this new law were predominately housekeeping.

Hot Topic: Social Security/Medicare Changed For Election Officials And Workers, Jim Leuty

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

According to Public Law 103-296, cities may not have to withhold Social Security/Medicare from election officials/workers who earn less than $1,000 per calendar year prior to the calendar year 2000, and less than the adjusted amount for calendar years after 1999. The law, which became effective Jan. 1, 1995, changed the "exclusion rule" amount from $100.

Hot Topic: The 1994 Mtas Salary And Fringe Benefit Survey, Richard Stokes

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The MTAS annual salary and fringe benefit survey for 1994 is complete and shows salary increases for city employees grew at a rate higher than 1993, continuing a trend.

Hot Topic: Drug Testing Deadline Looms For Employees With Commercial Drivers' Licenses, Mtas

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

Reminder of the January 1, 1995 deadline for all cities with 50 or more employees required to have a commercial drivers' licenses (CDLs) to institute drug and alcohol testing programs for those employees. For cities with fewer than 50 employees with CDLs, the deadline for having their programs in place was January 1, 1996.

Hot Topic: First Nfpa Fire Inspector Training Scheduled, Mtas

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

Notification of a free NFPA Fire Inspector 1 training class, presented by the Tennessee State Fire Marshall's office, held on December 12-15, 1994.

Hot Topic: City Clerks And Recorders Certification Regulations Summarized, Richard Stokes

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

Chapter 648 of the Public Acts of 1994 adds a new law requiring municipal clerks and recorders to become certified by completing 100 hours of education.

Hot Topic: 1994-95 State Revenue Estimates, Ken Joines, Jim Leuty

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The Tennessee General Assembly adopted the state budget for fiscal year 1995 in late April.

Hot Topic: The 1993 Mt As Salary And Fringe Benefit Survey, Richard Stokes

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The MT AS annual salary and fringe benefit survey for 1993 is complete and shows salary increases for city employees grew at a rate higher than 1992. Hot off the laser printer, here's a summary of the findings.

Hot Topic: Laws Governing City Budgets Changed, Jim Leuty

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

A city's ability to choose which budget law it follows was removed when the General Assembly passed Chapter 448, Public Acts of 1993, applying the general budget law to several additional cities. The general budget law, formally known as the Municipal Budget Law of 1982, is detailed in Tennessee Code Annotated §6-56-201 et seq.

Hot Topic: Attention Cities--Heads Up On Solid Waste!, Sharon Rollins, Leslie Shechter

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

Time is running out to finalize regional solid waste plans. Make sure your city's interests are represented!

Hot Topic: Annexation Always A Hot Topic In Tennessee Cities And Towns, Sid Hemsley

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

This is a compilation of recent annexation events in Tennessee. It includes information sent in by various municipalities -- complaints, briefs, cases, etc.-- supplemented by material already in the MTAS annexation files.

Hot Topic: Irs Rules Change Regarding Diesel Fuel Purchases, Mtas

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (P.L. 103-66), enacted in August 1993, changed the collection point for the excise taxes on diesel fuel to the same as gasoline.

Hot Topic: State Revises Travel Reimbursement Rates, Mtas

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

Summary of changes in the federal and state reimbursement rates for travel.