(a) Upon receipt of a complaint of a violation of this chapter, the executive committee shall initiate an investigation of the complaint by requesting that the Tennessee public utility commission designate an employee of the commission who will investigate the complaint at the executive committee’s direction.
Terms Used In Tennessee Code 65-31-116
Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
Damage: includes the substantial weakening of structural or lateral support of an underground utility, penetration or destruction of any protective coating, housing or other protective device of an underground utility, the partial or complete severance of an underground utility and rendering any underground utility inaccessible. See Tennessee Code 65-31-102
Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
(b) Any investigator acting at the direction of the executive committee may issue citations for violations of this chapter. Any citation may include a recommendation for the penalty to be assessed under § 65-31-112.(c) If the person to whom the citation is issued under subsection (b) does not pay the citation or submit to ordered training, or both, within thirty (30) days, then the executive committee shall appoint a hearing officer to conduct a hearing and issue an initial order pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5. The hearing shall be held in the Nashville, Davidson County, offices of the Tennessee public utility commission at the time set forth in the citation notice of hearing.(d) An appeal of the initial order pursuant to § 4-5-315 shall be heard by the executive committee.(e) A person aggrieved by the final order may, within sixty (60) days, file a petition for judicial review pursuant to § 4-5-322. In the case of a decision involving an excavation in proximity to underground facilities of a municipally-owned utility located in a county having a population of greater than three hundred thousand (300,000), according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census, the petition for review shall be filed in the chancery court located in that county. In all other cases, the petition for review shall be filed in the chancery court of Davidson County.(f) Nothing in this chapter shall grant the executive committee or the boardjurisdiction over damage to utilities located above ground.
