Terms Used In Tennessee Code 58-8-112

  • Aid: means the same as assistance, except that aid is provided in an occurrence during any period of time when a state of emergency has not been declared. See Tennessee Code 58-8-102
  • Assistance: means the provision of personnel, equipment, facilities, services, supplies, and other resources to assist in firefighting, law enforcement, the provision of public works services, the provision of emergency medical care, the provision of civil defense services, or any other emergency assistance one governmental entity is able to provide to another in response to a request for assistance in a municipal, county, state, or federal state of emergency. See Tennessee Code 58-8-102
  • Emergency: means an occurrence or threat of an occurrence, whether natural or man-made, that results in or may result in substantial injury or harm to the population or substantial damage to or loss of property and which results in a declaration of a state of emergency by a municipal mayor, a county mayor or executive, the governor, or the president. See Tennessee Code 58-8-102
  • Governmental entity: means any political subdivision of the state, including, but not limited to, any incorporated city or town, metropolitan government, county, utility district, school district, nonprofit volunteer fire department receiving public funds and recognized under title 68, chapter 102, part 3, rescue squad, human resource agency, public building authority, airport authority, and development district, or any instrumentality of government created by one (1) or more of these named governmental entities or the general assembly, or any entity otherwise recognized by state law as a local governmental entity. See Tennessee Code 58-8-102

Governmental entities that are parties to existing mutual aid agreements may by resolution of their governing bodies determine to continue to operate under those agreements until they expire or are terminated. If a governmental entity does not affirm the continued existence of the agreement, it shall expire on July 1, 2004, and this chapter applies. If the governmental entity affirms an agreement, the terms of the agreement and applicable authorizing law will continue to govern activities under the agreement. Mutual aid agreements between Tennessee governmental entities and governmental entities in other states are not affected by this chapter and continue to be authorized and governed by the Interlocal Cooperation Act, compiled in title 12, chapter 9, and other applicable law. Except for the continuation of existing agreements as provided in this section, any new agreements made after July 1, 2004, and aid or assistance provided at the request of TEMA under § 58-2-113, this chapter is the exclusive method for providing mutual aid and emergency assistance between governmental entities.