Private Acts of 1974 Chapter 364

WHEREAS, the Chattanooga Public Library has been operating under the provisions of Section 10-302, et seq., Tennessee Code Annotated, and Ordinance No. 5491 of the City of Chattanooga, dated April 14, 1964, now codified as Section 23-1, et seq., Part II, Chattanooga City Code; and

WHEREAS, both the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County have recently been contributing jointly to the operating expenses of the Chattanooga Public Library; and

WHEREAS, the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County have agreed to participate in the appropriation of capitol funds for the construction of a new main library to be located in the City of Chattanooga and two new branch libraries, one to be located in the City of Chattanooga, and the other to be located outside the city limits of the City of Chattanooga and in Hamilton County; and

WHEREAS, both the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County have agreed to enlarge the composition of the existing Board of Directors of the Chattanooga Public Library from seven (7) members to fifteen (15) members; now, therefore,

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1.  The name of the existing Chattanooga Public Library is hereby changed to "Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library".

SECTION 2.  The Board of Directors of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library shall consist of fifteen (15) members, eight (8) of whom shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners of the City of Chattanooga, and seven (7) of whom shall be appointed by the County Council of Hamilton County.

SECTION 3.  The members of the Board of Directors who have been appointed by the Board of Commissioners of the City of Chattanooga, and who presently are serving unexpired terms, shall serve until the expiration of their current terms.  The additional member of the Board of Directors which is to be appointed by the Board of Commissioners of the City of Chattanooga shall serve a term ending July 1, 1977.  All of the successors of said appointees shall serve for a term of three (3) years, or until his or her successor is appointed.

SECTION 4.  The members of the Board of Directors appointed by the County Council of Hamilton County pursuant to this agreement shall serve for the following terms:  two (2) until July 1, 1975; two (2) until July 1, 1976; and three (3) until July 1, 1977.  Their successors shall serve for a term of three (3) years, or until his or her successor is appointed.

SECTION 5.  The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library shall contract for casualty insurance in a sufficient amount as determined by the Board of Directors.  It shall also contract for public liability and vehicular insurance covering its operations against liabilities for bodily injury and property damage in minimum limits of $100,000/$300,000/$25,000, and the expense thereof shall be paid from its operating budget.  To the extent only of such insurance coverage governmental immunity is waived by the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County, jointly and severally.

SECTION 6.  Except as herein provided, the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library henceforth shall be operated and maintained according to all of the provisions of Section 10-301, et seq., Tennessee Code Annotated.

SECTION 7.  This Act shall have no effect unless the same shall have been approved by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Hamilton County council on or before the next regular meeting of such governing body occurring more than sixty (60) days after its approval by the Chief Executive of this State.  Its approval or non-approval shall be proclaimed by the presiding officer of the Hamilton Council, and shall be certified by him to the Secretary of State.

SECTION 8.  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 7.

Passed:  March 28, 1974.