(a)

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 29-20-103

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Governmental entity: means any political subdivision of the state of Tennessee including, but not limited to, any municipality, metropolitan government, county, utility district, school district, nonprofit volunteer fire department receiving funds appropriated by a county legislative body or a legislative body of a municipality, human resource agency, community action agency or nonprofit corporation that administers the Head Start or Community Service Block Grant programs, public building authority, and development district created and existing pursuant to the constitution and laws of Tennessee, or any instrumentality of government created by any one (1) or more of the named local governmental entities or by an act of the general assembly. See Tennessee Code 29-20-102
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) Any governmental entity may exempt itself from this chapter by action of its legislative body if such action is taken by January 1, 1975; provided, that §§ 7-31-103, 7-31-112, 7-51-202 (repealed) and 7-51-203, shall apply to any governmental entity exempting itself from this chapter.
(2) Any governmental entity exempting itself from this chapter may by resolution of its governing body elect at any time to come under this chapter, provided, that this chapter would only apply to claims or actions arising after the effective date of such resolution.
(b) After January 1, 1976, this chapter shall apply to all governmental entities as defined herein, provided that as to those governmental entities exempting themselves, as provided for in the preceding subsection, this chapter will only apply to claims or actions arising after January 1, 1976.
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to deprive any person of any cause of action or damages to which they are otherwise entitled arising under the federal Civil Rights Acts of 1871 and 1964, as amended.
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