A resolution requesting the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to allow the Metropolitan Government to transfer operation of the Animal Control Division from the Health Department to the Davidson County Sheriff's Office.

WHEREAS, Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-8-101, et seq. allows local public health departments to implement and administer the state rabies control laws; and

WHEREAS, the fees derived from the registration of animals must be used to maintain the local animal control program; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Health Department currently operates and maintains the animal control program in Davidson County; and

WHEREAS, due to concerns over the current operation of the animal control program in Davidson County, the Council desires to transfer the animal control division of the Health Department to the Davidson County Sheriff's Office; and

WHEREAS, animal control functions are not specifically within the duties assigned to the Sheriff pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-8-201; and

WHEREAS, in order to effectuate this change, the Council would like to have specific state law authorization to transfer the program to the Sheriff's Office.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to allow the Metropolitan Government to transfer operation of the Animal Control Division from the Health Department to the Davidson County Sheriff's Office.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to each member of the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly.

Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Jason Hart, Amanda McClendon, Billy Walls, Ludye Wallace, Walter Hunt, Buck Dozier, Michael Craddock, Mike Jameson, Erik Cole, David Briley, Randy Foster, Charlie Tygard, Greg Adkins, Lynn Williams, Jim Shulman, Jason Alexander, Carl Burch, Sam Coleman, Vivian Wilhoite, Jim Hodge, Parker Toler, Emily Evans, Edward Whitmore, Harold White, J. B. Loring, Ronnie Greer, Jim Gotto, Jamie Isabel, John Summers, Robert Duvall