There is created the office of legal services, which has the duty to:

(1) Provide summaries and abstracts of proposed legislation;

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 3-12-101

  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(2) Prepare and assist in the preparation of proposed legislation and amendments;
(3) Give legal opinions upon request of members of the general assembly;
(4) Inform the speaker of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and appropriate committees of either house of developments which have affected or may affect state law or which may require legislative action, together with appropriate recommendations;
(5) Review all proposed legislation as to form and style, prior to its introduction;
(6) Conduct a continuing review of the Tennessee Code Annotated and uncodified public chapters and advise the general assembly as to legislation deemed necessary to remove defective or anachronistic laws in light of the common law and judicial decisions;
(7) Advise the general assembly of proposals for the reform or betterment of the law recommended by the Uniform Law Commission, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Council of State Governments, the American Law Institute, any bar association or other learned body;
(8) Receive and consider suggestions from legislators, judges, public officials, lawyers, and the public as to defects and anachronisms in the law and, if deemed appropriate, prepare legislation to remove such defects or anachronisms;
(9) Inform the general assembly of all provisions of the Tennessee Code Annotated which have been repealed by implication or which have been held unconstitutional by the Tennessee Supreme Court or by the United States Supreme Court; and
(10) Provide other legal services requested by the committee, the speakers, or the general assembly.
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