6-20-215 - Ordinance procedure. - Tennessee Statutes

6-20-215. Ordinance procedure.

(a)  Every ordinance shall be read two (2) different days in open session before its adoption, and not less than one (1) week shall elapse between first and second readings, and any ordinance not so read shall be null and void. Any city incorporated under chapters 18-22 of this title may establish by ordinance a procedure to read only the caption of an ordinance, instead of the entire ordinance, on both readings. Copies of such ordinances shall be available during regular business hours at the office of the city recorder and during sessions in which the ordinance has its second reading.

(b)  An ordinance shall not take effect until fifteen (15) days after the first passage thereof, except in case of an emergency ordinance. An emergency ordinance may become effective upon the day of its final passage; provided, that it shall contain the statement that an emergency exists and shall specify the distinct facts and reasons constituting such an emergency.

(c)  The unanimous vote of all members of the board present shall be required to pass an emergency ordinance.

(d)  No ordinance making a grant, renewal, or extension of a franchise or other special privilege, or regulating the rate to be charged for its service by any public utility shall ever be passed as an emergency ordinance. No ordinance shall be amended, except by a new ordinance.

[Acts 1921, ch. 173, art. 5, § 2; Shan. Supp., § 1997a150; Code 1932, § 3547; Acts 1976, ch. 420, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 6-2026; Acts 1989, ch. 175, § 9; 1995, ch. 13, § 10; 1996, ch. 652, § 4.]