§ 7-53-102 — Purposes of chapter - Construction

(a) It is the intent of the general assembly by the passage of this chapter to authorize the incorporation in the several municipalities in this state of public corporations to finance, acquire, own, lease, or dispose of properties, to the end that such corporations may be able to maintain and increase employment opportunities, increase the production of agricultural commodities, and increase the quantity of housing available in affected municipalities by promoting industry, trade, commerce, tourism and recreation, agriculture and housing construction by inducing manufacturing, industrial, governmental, educational, financial, service, commercial, recreational and agricultural enterprises to locate in or remain in this state and further the use and production of its agricultural products and natural resources, and to vest such corporations with all powers that may be necessary to enable them to accomplish such purposes. It is further the intent of the general assembly to promote the control and elimination of all types of pollution that may result from the existence, development or expansion of commerce and industry within the state and that are essential to the economic growth of the state and to the full employment and prosperity of its citizens, but are accompanied by the increased use of processes and facilities and the increased production and discharge of noise, and gaseous, liquid and solid waste that threaten and endanger the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of the state by polluting the air, land and waters of the state. Therefore, the general assembly finds and determines that in order to reduce, control and prevent such environmental pollution, it is imperative that action be taken at various levels of government to require acquisition and installation of devices, equipment and facilities for the collection, reduction, treatment, and disposal of such wastes and pollutants, and that such actions heretofore or hereafter taken be effectively coordinated; that the cost of such acquisition and installation, if required to be assumed and paid by private enterprises without public assistance, would be unduly burdensome and would discourage or prevent their location in the state and would jeopardize their continued operation in the state; and that the assistance provided in this chapter, especially with respect to financing, is therefore in the public interest and serves a public purpose of the state in promoting the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of the state, not only physically by reducing, controlling and preventing environmental pollution but also economically by the securing and retaining of private enterprises and the resulting maintenance of a higher level of employment and economic activity and stability, and to vest such corporations with all powers that may be necessary to accomplish such purposes. It is not intended by this chapter that any such corporation shall itself be authorized to operate any such manufacturing, industrial, governmental, educational, commercial or agricultural enterprise, hotel, motel or apartment building or pollution control facility. (b) This chapter shall be liberally construed in conformity with such intention. (c) The statement of public policy set forth in chapter 209, § 3 of the Public Acts of 1955 is hereby incorporated into and made a part of this chapter, and it is hereby determined and declared that the means provided by this chapter are needed to relieve the emergency created by the continuing migration from Tennessee of a large number of its citizens in order to find employment elsewhere and to control and eliminate all types of pollution within the state. (d) The findings of the general assembly set forth in § 4-31-202 are hereby incorporated into and made a part of this chapter, and it is hereby determined and declared that the means provided by this chapter are needed to make financial means available to farmers and farm-related enterprises that private industry alone would be otherwise unable to serve, at interest rates lower than would otherwise be obtainable.

Legislative History

Acts 1955, ch. 210, § 2; 1959, ch. 222, § 2; 1961, ch. 285, § 2; 1969, ch. 55, § 2; 1971, ch. 304, § 2; 1973, ch. 304, § 2; 1974, ch. 587, § 2; 1976, ch. 515, § 2; 1978, ch. 739, §§ 3, 4; T.C.A., § 6-2802; Acts 1982, ch. 896, §§ 4-6.