(a) It is unlawful and deemed a misappropriation of public funds for any official to pay a fee other than underwriting discount to any person, group of persons, firm, company or corporation for selling bonds or notes issued by such official's local government after such bonds or notes have been sold. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the payment of fees for legal and fiscal services in connection with the issuance of bonds or notes. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the payment of a remarketing fee to a remarketing agent for remarketing services in connection with the resale of bonds or notes subject to repurchase on demand of the owner or subject to repurchase on demand of the local government.(b) Any local government official who unlawfully misappropriates public funds, in the manner set forth in subsection (a), shall be personally liable to the local government for the total amount of such unlawful misappropriation and reasonable attorney fees incident to the collection of such amount. A suit to recover the total amount for which a local government official is personally liable may be filed by any person who is a resident and taxpayer fees incident to the collection of such amount. A suit to recover the total amount for which a local government official is personally liable may be filed by any person who is a resident and taxpayer of the local government for general obligation bonds or notes, or by any person who is a user of the service provided in the case of revenue bonds or notes of the local government.Acts 1986, ch. 770, § 1-14.
Tennessee Legal Code