Private Acts of 1997 Chapter 73

SECTION 1.  This act shall be known as the Joint City-County Animal Shelter Act for the City of Paris and Henry County.

SECTION 2.  The General Assembly hereby declares that the City of Paris, Tennessee and Henry County, Tennessee are in need of a means for operating a joint City-County Animal Shelter, and Henry County is in need of a means to provide for the licensing of dogs and cats in Henry County, Tennessee and to provide for an annual fee regarding such licenses.

SECTION 3.  The City of Paris, Tennessee and Henry County, Tennessee are authorized to enter into contractual arrangements with one another for the purpose of operating a joint City-County Animal Shelter.  The city and county may contract between themselves for such matters as the allocation of costs, administrative responsibilities and powers relative thereto.  Such contractual arrangements may provide for an animal shelter board to be comprised of representatives of the City of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee, to be nominated in such manner and for such terms as the contractual arrangement shall provide.

SECTION 4.  Henry County, Tennessee is authorized to impose a per animal license fee for each dog and cat located in Henry County, Tennessee.  This fee shall be in such amount as the County Commission, by resolution, shall determine from time to time and shall be on an annual basis.  The County Commission, by resolution, shall provide for the County officers charged with the responsibility of administering and collecting such fee.  The fee shall be due annually at the time the animal is vaccinated.  The proceeds of such fee shall be used solely for the operation of an animal shelter.

SECTION 5.  Stray dogs and cats found within Henry County, Tennessee, meaning those animals whose ownership cannot be determined or as to whom the owner refuses to take responsibility, will be impounded at the animal shelter as strays and held and disposed of under the policy guidelines of the board authorized to supervise the animal shelter.

SECTION 6.  This act shall have no effect unless it is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the County Commission of Henry County.  Its approval or nonapproval shall be proclaimed by the Presiding Officer of the County Commission and certified to the Secretary of State.

SECTION 7.  For the purpose of approving or rejecting the provisions of this act, it shall be effective upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.  For all other purposes, it shall become effective upon being approved as provided in Section 6.

Passed:  May 26, 1997.