Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Hot Topic: Personnel Issues In The News, Richard Stokes

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The following Hot Topic summarizes pertinent information, key legislation, and Supreme Court rulings that took place during 2000.

Hot Topic: 2000 Legislative Session Paves Way For E-Commerce, Ralph Cross, Al Major

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

Action taken by the Tennessee General Assembly during the 2000 legislative session revised methods by which state and local governments may conduct business electronically and collect money.

Technical Bulletins: Npdes Phase Ii Stormwater Permitting, Andrew J. Reese, R. Scott Taylor

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

In December 1999, the new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II regulations were published. These regulations, which regulate stormwater discharges to U.S. waters, are mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and implemented in the state by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).

Technical Bulletins: Two-In, Two-Out And The Osha Respiratory Protection Standard, Ray Crouch

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

The respiratory standard adopted by OSHA is in full effect in Tennessee.

Hot Topic: Liability Exposure Of Emts And Paramedics Not Subject To Governmental Tort Liability Limits, Jim Finane

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

In a recent Tennessee Supreme Court case, the court found that local government emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics are excluded from the coverage of the Governmental Tort Liability Act (GTLA).

Technical Bulletins: Tranquilizer Guns And Animal Control: Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, Pamela Bingham, Don Darden

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

The MTAS Police Manual and state statues prohibit the use of a firearm on a stray pet that is not threatening or dangerous.

Hot Topic: Legislation Affecting Human Resources, Richard Stokes

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

During the 2000 legislative session, the Tennessee General Assembly passed two public acts that affect the area of human resources. The first, Chapter No. 693, allows cities and counties to conduct background investigations and require fingerprint samples before employment with the organization. The second, Chapter No. 888, amends the waiting period for unemployment compensation.

Hot Topic: 2000 Legislative Changes Of Interest To Local Law Enforcement, Rex Barton

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The 2000 legislative session resulted in numerous changes that affect law enforcement in Tennessee. This publication highlights some of the more important changes.

Technical Bulletins: Physical Fitness In Public Safety: Administering Ability And Agility Tests Properly, Don Darden

MTAS Publications: Technical Bulletins

Cities should develop a medical and physical fitness testing program to better serve the public safety needs of their citizens and protect the lives of police and fire fighters.

Hot Topic: October Deadline On New Inter-Basin Water Transfers Act, Steve Wyatt

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The Tennessee Legislature, at the request of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), created a new state law entitled the "Inter-basin Water Transfer Act." The act was designed to regulate water volumes withdrawn from one basin and transferred to another basin for consumption and disposal. It only affected new transfers or increases in existing transfers. The rule became effective Oct. 1, 2000.

Hot Topic: 2000-2001 State Revenue Estimates, Dick Phebus

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The Tennessee General Assembly adopted the state budget for fiscal year 2000-2001. Based on this budget, cities can expect to receive the following revenues.

Hot Topic: The Legislature Sends Message To Cities With Electronic Mail: You Must Have A Written E-Mail Policy, Sid Hemsley

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

This Hot Topic discusses the requirement for Tennessee cities to adopt a written policy regarding e-mail. On or before July 1, 2000, most Tennessee governments - including cities - that operate or maintain an electronic-mail (e-mail) system must adopt a written policy about monitoring e-mail communications. Included is a sample policy for the use and monitoring of e-mail.

Hot Topic: Changes In Federal And State Reimbursement Rates For Travel, Dick Phebus

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

For those cities that elected to reimburse for travel using the federal reimbursement rates, the federal government increased the vehicle-cents-per-mile reimbursement rate for 2000 to 32.5 cents per mile. This increase became effective Jan. 1, 2000.

Hot Topic: The 1999/2000 Mtas Salary And Fringe Benefit Survey, Richard Stokes

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The MTAS annual salary and fringe benefit survey for 199912000 is complete and shows salary increases for city employees grew at a rate slower than 1998/1999. This report contains a summary of the findings as well as a means to request specific information.

City Of Rockwood Natural Gas Fund Report, Steve Wyatt, Bill Young

MTAS Publications: Full Publications

The City of Rockwood operates a natural gas system for approximately 2,600 residential and commercial customers who are served by the main city gas distribution gate. In addition, there are three industrial customers, IMCO, Horsehead, and Bayou Steel who purchase natural gas under a third party contract. These customers separately contract with Rockwood for transportation of the gas on the city distribution system for these gas purchases.

In 1996, Rockwood entered into an agreement with the City of Kingston (Exhibit 1) to provide natural gas service within the City of Kingston. The revenues and expenses of the Kingston portion of …

Hot Topic: Social Security Administration And Internal Revenue Service: State And Local Compliance Issues For 2000, Ralph Cross, Kirk Bednar

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

Representatives from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) conducted seminars across the state to clarify employee taxation and reporting issues with local government agencies before the end of the calendar year reporting, to minimize employer exposure to penalties for noncompliance. This Hot Topic summarizes those issues of utmost importance to cities.

Tennessee Public Acts 2000: Summaries Of Interest To Municipal Officials, Dennis Huffer

MTAS Publications: Full Publications

Summarizes the year's public acts and provides date they become effective.

Users of this publication are cautioned that much judgment is involved in determining which Public Acts to summarize and how to summarize them. Before taking action or giving advice based upon any Public Act summarized here, one should consult the act itself and not rely on the summary.