Private Acts of 1982 Chapter 299

SECTION 1. Effective September 1, 1982, there is created a Division II to the General Sessions Court of Bradley County created by Chapter 17 of the Private Acts of 1955.  Such division shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the present General Sessions Court in Bradley County.  Effective September 1, 1982, the present General Sessions Court in such county shall be designated as Division I.

SECTION 2.  At the August 1982 General Election, and every eight (8) years; thereafter, the qualified voters of Bradley County shall elect a person to the office of judge of Division II of General Sessions Court for an eight (8) year term.  Such judge of Division II shall possess all of the qualifications presently required for General Sessions Judges in Bradley County.

For the August 1982 election only, persons seeking election to the office of judge of Division II of the General Sessions Court of Bradley County shall have until 12:00 noon prevailing time on May 4, 1982, to qualify as a candidate for such office.

SECTION 3.  The judge of Division II of the Bradley County General Sessions Court shall have the same jurisdiction, authority, powers and duties, and shall receive the same compensation in the same manner as is presently provided for the judge of the General Sessions Court of Bradley County.

SECTION 4.  Upon the judge of Division II taking office on September 1, 1982, he shall meet with the judge of Division I for the purpose of making an equitable division of the cases then pending in the Bradley County General Sessions Court.  At such meeting, the judges shall also determine the method by which future cases filed in General Sessions Court will be assigned between the two (2) divisions.

SECTION 5.  The compensation of all court officers employed for Division II of the General Sessions Court created by this Act and the compensation of all court officers presently employed by the General Sessions Court of Bradley County shall be established by the Bradley County Commission.  Provided, however, the level of compensation for any such court officer shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the compensation paid to the Bradley County Sheriff.

SECTION 6.  This Act shall have no effect unless it is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the county legislative body of Bradley County.  Its  approval or nonapproval shall be proclaimed by the presiding officer of the Bradley County legislative body and certified by him 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 take effect upon being approved as provided in Section 6 unless another date is specified by this Act.

Passed:  March 25, 1982.