Section 53-7-221 - [See Note] State cooperation with federal and local entities - Expenditure funding(a) The commissioner is designated as the state official responsible for cooperating with the United States secretary of agriculture under the federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.). The commissioner shall cooperate with the United States secretary of agriculture in developing and administering the meat inspection program of this state under this part to assure that its requirements will be at least equal to those imposed by the federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.), and in developing and administering the program of this state under this part in a manner that will effectuate the purposes of this part and federal law.(b) The commissioner may accept from the United States secretary of agriculture advisory assistance in planning and developing the state program, technical and laboratory assistance and training, and financial and other aid for administration of the program.(c) The commissioner may spend public funds of this state, subject to appropriation in the general appropriations act, for administration of this part to pay this state's cost of the cooperative programs developed under this section.(d) The commissioner may recommend to the United States secretary of agriculture such officials or employees of this state as the commissioner designates for appointment to the advisory committee provided for in 21 U.S.C. § 661(a)(4), and the commissioner shall serve as the representative of the governor of this state for consultation with the United States secretary of agriculture under 21 U.S.C. § 661(c), unless the governor designates another representative.(e) For the purpose of preventing and eliminating burdens on intrastate commerce with respect to meat and meat products, the jurisdiction of the commissioner within the scope of this part is exclusive, and a county or municipal board of health or other county or municipal agency does not have any power or jurisdiction to regulate the slaughtering of any livestock or the processing or transportation of the carcasses or parts thereof or the meat and meat food products of such animals, nor does any county or municipal board of health or other county or municipal agency have any power or jurisdiction with regard to the inspections provided for in this part, nor with respect to any other activity committed to the authority of the commissioner by this part.(f)(1) In carrying out this part, the commissioner may cooperate with all other branches of government, county and municipal, and with county and municipal health departments or other agencies and may conduct such examinations, investigations, and inspections as provided for in this part and as the commissioner determines practical through any officer or employee of this state or any municipality or county in this state qualified for such purpose.(2) The commissioner may contract with any municipal or county health departments to carry out the duties and requirements of this part. Any municipal or county health department may contract with the commissioner for the purpose of meeting the requirements of this part.(g) This section does not preclude or restrict any municipality or county from the exercise of its police powers with regard to the establishment and maintenance of the facilities at which the activities regulated by this part are conducted.Added by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 380, s 4, eff. .