Private Acts of 1997 Chapter 60

SECTION 1.  The General Sessions Court Judge of Fayette County shall take office September 1, 1998, and shall be elected at the regular August election in 1998.  The judge shall hold office for an eight (8) year term and shall be subject to the conditions and duties of the general law, except as provided in this act.  The judge shall be a licensed attorney in good standing, shall devote full time to the duties of the office, and shall be prohibited from the practice of law or any other employment which conflicts with the performance of the judge's duties as judge.

SECTION 2.  Effective September 1, 1998, the compensation of the judge shall be the same as that for a General Sessions Court Judge in a county of the third class as such classes are provided by the general law in effect on May 1, 1997, and shall be payable in equal monthly installments, and the total salary, including supplements, shall be subject to periodic adjustment according to the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated, § 8-23-103 in effect on May 1, 1997.  It is the express intention of the General Assembly to establish the compensation of the General Sessions Court Judge as a full time judge and as if Fayette County were a county of the third class, as defined in Tennessee Code Annotated, § 16-15-5001, or a subsequent statutory enactment, despite Fayette County not meeting the definition of a county of the third class on the basis of population.

SECTION 3.  Effective September 1, 1998, the General Sessions Court shall have juvenile jurisdiction and concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit and Chancery Courts over probate cass, domestic relations cases, and mental health commitments.  Regardless of which court is exercising jurisdiction, probate cases, domestic relations cases, and mental health commitments shall continue to be filed in the clerk's office where such cases are currently filed.  Notwithstanding any limitation on annual supplements in the general law or a subsequent statutory enactment controlling supplements to the contrary, the Judge of the Court of General Sessions shall receive the total amount of the supplements authorized by the law in effect in May 1, 1997, for such judge.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the judge shall also receive ten thousand dollars ($10,000) a year as a supplement for conducting mental health commitment proceedings.

SECTION 4.  This act shall have no effect unless it is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Legislative Body of Fayette County.  Its approval or nonapproval shall be proclaimed by the Presiding Officer of the County Legislative Body and certified to the Secretary of State.

SECTION 5.  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 4.

Passed:  May 21, 1997.