AN ACT TO ALLOW MADISON COUNTY TO SIGN MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING WITH UNICOI, GREENE, AND COCKE COUNTIES.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Madison County Sheriff's Office may enter into memorandums of understanding with the following sheriffs' offices located in Tennessee: Unicoi County, Greene County, and Cocke County. These memorandums of understanding shall permit the sheriffs' offices to engage across state lines in law enforcement special operations missions and cooperative law enforcement actions.

SECTION 1.(b)  Any memorandum of understanding entered into pursuant to this section shall specify the manner in which liability claims for damage to persons or property as a result of law enforcement special operations missions and cooperative law enforcement actions will be shared or assigned. While ensuring public safety, each memorandum of understanding shall limit to the greatest extent possible the liability of Madison County and the State of North Carolina.

SECTION 1.(c)  No later than November 1 of each year, any memorandum of understanding entered into that year pursuant to this section shall be reported to the Department of Justice.

SECTION 2.  This act applies only to Madison County.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.