(a) The authority is administratively attached to the department of commerce and insurance. The department, within existing resources, shall authorize department personnel to assist the authority in carrying out administrative duties, including the receipt and distribution of federal and state funds, grants, and other non-state funded incentives to induce the construction and completion of transit projects, expand, contract, modify, or divert existing transit projects, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter.
(b) The authority may execute memoranda of understanding with the department of transportation, department of commerce and insurance, department of environment and conservation, department of general services, Tennessee public utilities commission, and other relevant state departments and agencies to coordinate any functions or powers of such entities in furtherance of the construction, operation, and maintenance of a transit project.
(c) The authority shall not take any action or exercise any authority, function, duty, or power of a state department or agency, except under the express authority of a memorandum executed under subsection (b).