Legislative Year End Wrap-Up

 Republicans Conclude a History-Making Legislative Session

 

Job Growth a Major Focus of the Conservative Majority

 

 

Recently, House Republicans wrapped up one of the most successful legislative sessions in Tennessee history. The first legislative Session of the 107th General Assembly was focused on passing common sense initiatives to aid both immediate and long-term economic development in Tennessee’s private sector.

 

Measures to ensure employers find Tennessee an attractive destination for their businesses, protect jobs for Tennesseans, and reinvigorate the State’s education system to better train the next generation of Tennessee workers were among the House GOP’s priorities. House Republicans worked hard this year to ensure the state continues to foster an environment where new jobs are created and small business can thrive.

 

With Republicans at the helm, the Legislature finished its work in record time—this was the earliest conclusion for a legislative session in 13 years.

 

Following adjournment, the House Majority Leader stated, “I want to thank my colleagues for a job well done. With Governor Haslam, the House, and Senate working seamlessly together, we passed a forward thinking agenda that improves our educational system, provides an even better environment for jobs to flourish, and reduces our state budget by $1.2 billion.”

 

The Governor remarked, “I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together this session, and adjourning this early in May reflects legislative leadership’s commitment to conducting its business in an efficient and effective manner – something I believe will be a trademark of this leadership,” Haslam said. “I have enjoyed working with Lt. Gov. Ramsey, Speaker Harwell, Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris and House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick to help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs, and I look forward to building upon the progress and work we have done this session.” 

 

Fiscally Conservative Balanced Budget Passes the General Assembly

 

Republicans ushered through a fiscally conservative State budget that embodies the principles of Tennesseans. The balanced budget contained no tax increases and reduced Tennessee’s overall spending by $1.2 billion from last year.

 

Republicans promised Tennesseans that fiscal responsibility would be a priority. The budget they crafted scales back government while ensuring Tennesseans get the services they expect. This document stretches every penny to ensure the State remains fiscally healthy moving forward. The House GOP has taken care to not overextend the State or commit taxpayers to outrageous long-term outlays.

 

The final $30.8 billion budget also reflected responsible investments, reductions and savings, including:

·       $1 million in recurring funds to soften the impact of the Hall Income Tax on seniors;

·       a 1.6 percent salary increase for state employees – the first in four years;

·       restoring $70.4 million to the Rainy Day Fund for the first time in three years;

·       $3.8 billion to fully fund the BEP, including a $48.7 million increase for K-12 education;

·       $71.3 million for disaster relief resulting from recent storms and flooding;

·       $10 million for the Memphis Research Consortium.

 

Common Sense Education Reform Agenda Rolls Through Legislature

 

 

Under conservative leadership for the first time in history, Tennessee took a strong stand this legislative session by reforming an education system in dire need of change. Far too many rankings have shown Tennessee has fallen far behind other States when it comes to equipping children with the knowledge and training they need to succeed. Several key reforms were adopted that will have a positive impact on Tennessee for years to come.

 

The core principles of these reform initiatives are promoting student achievement and encouraging teacher excellence throughout Tennessee. In the long-term, Republican leaders of the House believe these initiatives will lead to a better trained workforce for the State. Republicans believe if Tennessee is going to become the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs it is critical that we improve education. Businesses are looking to compete with employees educated for the 21st century workplace. It was the goal of House Republicans to make sure Tennessee teachers are equipped with the best tools possible to educate Tennessee students.

 

Tenure Reform

 

During the Session, House Republicans officially made much-needed changes to the education tenure law by passing House Bill 2012. The legislation moves tenure for educators from three to five years and links the tenure privilege to revised performance evaluations.

 

The legislation was a key plank in the Governor’s call for education reform and he immediately signed the legislation upon receiving it. The legislation is part of a targeted package to bring accountability to education and, more importantly, make student achievement the top priority for Tennessee.

 

Charter Schools

 

Another major reform sent to the Governor’s desk for signature will have far-reaching positive effects on education in Tennessee. House Bill 1989 removes the cap on the number of charter schools allowed in the State and opens enrollment to more students. The bill has long been a top priority for Republicans who have been longtime champions of accessibility to a quality education for all Tennesseans.

 

“Creating an environment that promotes the growth of high quality charter schools provides parents with more education options for their children and school districts innovative tools to address their unique challenges,” stated the Governor. “In our mission to improve education and provide every child in Tennessee the opportunity to receive a high quality education, public charter schools are critical assets.” 

 

The Republican sponsor of the legislation remarked, “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this legislation through the General Assembly and present it to Governor Haslam. Governor Haslam has a strong vision for education in Tennessee. He believes we must promote student achievement and reward teaching excellence. In the long run, this law will ensure all children in Tennessee are equipped with the knowledge and skills they will need to make Tennessee a more dynamic and competitive economy.”

 

 

 

Collaborative Conferencing

 

After many hours of debate, an agreement was reached that takes away the mandatory authority of unions in education and, instead, allows all Tennessee teachers to directly take part in education policy discussions. The Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act of 2011 does away with the antiquated model of adversarial mandatory negotiating by the education union and provides a route for every individual teacher to have a voice at the education negotiating table. It opens up direct lines of communication between all education stakeholders so that education policy will reflect the will of teachers, parents, and administrators.

 

In a collaborative environment, all teachers and their invaluable perspectives will be accounted for in curriculum and education policy. Teachers will have direct input about items such as salary and benefits. Under this system, teachers will be viewed on the basis of their achievements in the classroom, not their seniority. Additionally, lines for free flowing communication are established between the directors of school and the professional employees who work for the local board of education—a reform that recognizes the free speech rights of all teachers.

 

House GOP Protects Teacher Pay

The House Republican Majority passed legislation that protects teacher pay from reductions in Tennessee. While local school boards and municipalities face tight budgets along with other government agencies, Republicans are committed to making sure our valuable teachers are protected from budget cuts.

The legislation, House Bill 367, simply prohibits any local education agency from lowering teacher salaries, without a corresponding change in the teacher's duties, or lowering the amount spent for teacher benefits from one school year to the next.

Legislature Welcomes More Top Companies to the Volunteer State

 

Throughout the legislative Session, Tennesseans were greeted with news that top companies are both coming to Tennessee or existing business are expanding their operations throughout the State. This is being done mainly because conservative legislators have fought hard to maintain Tennessee’s status as a strong right-to-work, no income tax State.

 

 

 

East Tennessee

 

Early in the Session, Governor Haslam welcomed a major company to Tennessee that will provide valuable employment opportunities for citizens. U.S. Nitrogen, LLC selected Tennessee to be the location for its brand new liquid ammonium nitrate plant. The company was recruited to the State by the Governor and Republican legislators.

 

The company will bring nearly $110 million to the local economy as well as 80 jobs for talented Tennesseans. The move was called yet another sign that Tennessee’s leadership is committed to improving the workforce opportunities for citizens by recruiting and retaining some of the top companies in the United States to the Volunteer State.

 

Tennessee received additional good news as it seeks to brand itself as the number one destination for high quality jobs in the South. Wacker Chemical, a worldwide manufacturer of numerous products, hosted a groundbreaking at the location of its soon-to-open operations facility in Bradley County. The company announced it would invest $1.45 billion into the plant—the largest single private investment in the Chattanooga-area.

 

The company joins other corporate giants who have recently joined the growing number of top-tier companies to call the Volunteer State home like Volkswagen, Electrolux, Hemlock Semiconductor, Amazon, and others.

 

One GOP Representative from the area stated, “Bradley County and East Tennessee are leading the way back in our state from the depths of the Great Recession because of projects like this new Wacker Chemie facility.” The Governor also stated his hope that bringing in a company like Wacker would promote further growth. Another conservative Representative for the area noted, “Wacker increased its investment in Bradley County, adding nearly a half-billion additional dollars and 150 more jobs to the originally planned 500 positions.”

 

Middle Tennessee

 

Later in the Session, another major company grabbed the headlines. While the country is still grappling with the effects of a harsh recession, Tennessee’s economy continues to prove many experts wrong. In a joint statement, the Governor and Commissioner of Economic and Community Development announced VICAM was expanding its facility in the Volunteer State. The State has seen a surge of relocations and growth from many companies over the last few years that view Tennessee as a location with a strong and qualified worker base.

 

The Japanese company is expanding its Coffee County manufacturing facility with a $32 million investment that will provide 70 news jobs to the area.

 

One Republican Representative stated, “Tennesseans want government to get out of the way so businesses can grow and expand. Our Republican leadership team in Nashville is making sure that happens.”

 

The ECD Commissioner stated this is another win for Tennessee's push to improve unemployment, especially in rural counties. The Governor added, “Japan has long been Tennessee’s largest foreign investor nation, and we are particularly grateful for the growing presence of Japanese companies in the Volunteer State and the investment and jobs they bring.”

 

West Tennessee

Early in the legislative Session, it was announced the Port of Cates Landing Project in Lake County was going to be funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation to the tune of $13 million. The State reserved funds in the Department of Transportation funding and the overall budget of $7 million to uphold Tennessee’s portion of the partnership.

The Governor said, "I was pleased to announce that night (in his State of the State Address) that one of the limited things the State can fund this year, that I was recommending to the Legislature, was to add $7 million in state funding for this project for the Port of Cates Landing.”

A conservative Representative from West Tennessee who worked hard for the project commended the announcement saying it fulfills the dreams of a lot of people and will pay off for many years. "Generations and generations are going to reap the benefits of the folks that had the imagination and the creativity to put this together."

House Republicans Applaud Jobs4TN Plan

 

Showing their mutual commitment to paving the way for job creation in the private sector, House Republicans welcomed news of the Jobs4TN plan presented by the Administration.

 

The Governor and Economic and Community Development Commissioner (ECD) announced the plan, which lays out the Administration’s economic development strategy resulting from a top-to-bottom review of the department. The plan is consistent with the principles laid out by the Republican Leadership of the General Assembly and implores unique initiatives to pave the way for job creation in Tennessee. The plan focuses on: Prioritizing the strategic recruitment of target industries; Assisting existing Tennessee businesses in expansions and remaining competitive; Supporting regional and rural economic development strategies; As well as investing in innovation and reducing business regulation.

 

“My top priority is for Tennessee to be the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high-quality jobs,” said the Governor. “Our Jobs4TN plan is a blueprint for doing just that. By leveraging our existing assets in each region, we will be able to attract new businesses to the State while helping our existing businesses expand and remain competitive. We will also be making significant investments in innovation to position Tennessee as a national leader well into the future.”

 

The plan was developed over a 45-day period and involved interviews with more than 300 stakeholders, community leaders, and national experts as well as through seven roundtables across Tennessee that were hosted by Legislators.

 

House Leadership applauded the plan, noting a clear vision for reducing regulations and passing common sense reforms will encourage job growth throughout Tennessee. This plan is an innovative blueprint that respects the unique aspects each region brings to the table and seeks out companies that will partner with those areas. The Governor and this Majority, once more, prove we are committed to economic development in this State.

Republicans Pass Tort Reform to Create Jobs

Republican legislation that caps non-economic damage awards at $750,000 and at $1 million in cases where victims suffer certain catastrophic injuries was given final approval by the House and sent on to the Governor who signed it into law.

 

Proponents of the legislation believe these reforms will bring stability to the legal environment companies have to account for when considering relocation to Tennessee or doing business here.

 

The Republican Leaders have talked about the fact this reform will drastically improve the business prospects for Tennessee by leveling the playing field so Tennessee is more competitive with other States in the region.

 

The bill also caps punitive damages meant to punish accidental negligence by businesses or individuals. Awards for injuries that can be quantified, such as medical care, rehabilitation, or loss of income, are not capped.

 

GOP Passes Major Protection for Tennessee Workers

While tort reform was seen as a major positive for businesses, another measure was cast as a positive for the rights of workers. The House enacted HB 1747, a major protection for Tennessee’s workforce. In basic terms, the legislation ensures Tennesseans will never face intimidation or coercive tactics by unions that are forcibly trying to unionize factories or workshops.

The bill ensures all employees, who want to select a bargaining representative for their workplace, may utilize a secret ballot – a core principle of American voting tradition.

One Republican who voted for the measure remarked, “Secret ballot voting is a basic American value that we must protect. No citizen should be forced to join a union or pay dues to a union just to have the opportunity to work and provide for their family.” Another conservative Member added, “For the last five years, unions have spent millions of dollars across the country to pass bills that effectively eliminate employees’ rights. With this legislation, we are forever ensuring those horrid tactics will never be a reality in Tennessee.”

Tennessee Republicans Fight Back Against Washington’s Outrageous Growth, Spending

 

Health Care

 

The “Tennessee Health Care Freedom Act” passed the House early in the Session, demonstrating the General Assembly’s pledge to roll back the unconstitutional mandates handed down from Washington that hurt economic growth in the State. This bill was part of a larger effort by the Majority to not only encourage job growth, but protect the valuable jobs already in Tennessee.

 

The legislation was an integral piece for many Republican legislators’ agendas over the last two years. A majority of House Members felt it was necessary for Tennessee to take action and protect the State from job losses that would have inevitably occurred due to the onerous mandates stemming from the federal health care law. Experts project higher insurance costs will be levied on Tennesseans if no action was taken by the Majority. More importantly, the legislation protects the integrity of individual rights for Tennesseans.

 

Essentially, the law ensures every person within Tennessee is free to choose or decline any mode of health care services without penalty or punishment from the government. Additionally, it prohibits Tennessee officials from interfering with the health care insurance decisions of every Tennessean. The bill passed in an overwhelming, bipartisan fashion with a 70-27 vote.

Spending

As the free-spending ways of Washington sink our nation further into debt, one Republican Representative guided a resolution to passage that calls on Congress to follow Tennessee’s model.

The resolution passed the House of Representatives 97 to 1, garnering bipartisan support. The measure simply encouraged the U.S. Congress to return to the founding principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility to rein in spending. Additionally, the resolution advises Congress to follow the example set by Tennessee of balanced budgets and responsible spending cuts to provide a stable environment for the State.

“This legislation is a direct reflection of the will of Tennesseans. Our citizens are tired of seeing their hard-earned tax dollars being wasted in Washington on bailouts, giveaways, and out-of-control entitlement programs,” said the conservative Member. “We are simply sending a message to Washington to get its fiscal house in order. If they need a model of how to do that, all they need to do is look to Tennessee. We have navigated these rough economic times by maintaining a balanced budget, keep taxes low, and reining in burdensome government regulations.”

She concluded, “Certainly, I am proud of the efforts of the Republican leadership in Congress that have enacted reductions. We support them and want them to continue fighting for more so our country can flourish.”

The Chairwoman of the House Republican Caucus applauded the House and remarked, “This is a thoughtful resolution that asks Washington to clean up the mess it created. Tennesseans are encouraged by the Republican efforts to fight the out-of-control spending in Congress and we want to show Tennessee is behind them 100 percent. We believe our State provides a great model of how to manage government and let the private sector lead the way in job creation. Simply put, we are saying voters deserve more of Tennessee, not DC.”

GOP Ensures Strong Pro-Life Measures Pass the House

In the final legislative days, House Republicans moved legislation that will amend the State's Constitution. Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 127 is a constitutional amendment that would bring the Constitution of the State of Tennessee back to a position of neutrality regarding abortion. Once again, SJR 127 enjoyed bi-partisan support.  

The amendment is intended to restore to the people of Tennessee, acting through their elected State Representatives and State Senators, their rightful authority to regulate abortion, all within federal constitutional limits.   

The Republican sponsor stated, “This amendment restores protections for citizens through common sense measures regarding a very personal matter in the lives of many women. SJR127 simply restores the authority of the people acting through their elected officials, to legislate abortion. Our State has a strong record of protecting life and this amendment will forever enshrine that principle in our Constitution.”

Republicans fought for the passage of the constitutional amendment for several years, but their efforts were blocked in subcommittees. The process for amending the State's Constitution is a long one. Joint resolutions must pass one General Assembly by a majority, which Republicans accomplished last year. In the subsequent General Assembly, it must be passed by two-thirds, before finally being put to the voters in the next gubernatorial election. Having accomplished those requirements, the amendment now goes before voter in 2014.

In addition to this Amendment, the House also took another strong stand to respect life of the unborn. House Bill 498 passed unanimously because of strong Republican leadership. The new law treats the murder of a pregnant woman as two separate deaths.

House Takes Strong Stand Against Illegal Immigration

On the next to last day of the Session, the House of Representatives took a strong stand against illegal immigration in Tennessee by passing legislation authorizing the use of the federal E-Verify system by Tennessee companies. The bill passed by a unanimous 96-0 vote.

 

The bill requires all employers with six or more employees to participate. Businesses are provided two options: the E-Verify program, which has a 97% accuracy rate, or the presentation of a valid Tennessee driver’s license to check the lawful status of an individual.

 

The Republican author of the bill stated, “I am proud to lead our State in this effort to crack down on illegal immigration. Our citizens demanded a reform to ensure job opportunities are reserved for Tennesseans and not those individuals who are here illegally.”

 

“The federal government has completely failed in its constitutional responsibility to ensure the integrity of our borders. Because of that, it is up to us in Tennessee to take action,” said another conservative Member. “Passage of this bill today shows we are serious about honoring our pledge to voters to make a difference when it comes to combating illegal immigration.”

 

In addition to providing avenues for Tennessee businesses, HB 1378 also requires the use of Drivers Licenses for 1099 non-employees to show lawful presence and provides that participation in the E-Verify program provides “safe harbor” for businesses. If a business elects to use a driver’s license instead of E-Verify the “safe harbor” provision is not available. The legislation also assesses penalties for non-compliance of E-Verify. They include $500 for a first time offense, $1,000 for a second time offense, and $2,500 for each subsequent offense. Moreover, should a business knowingly hire an illegal alien, its business license will be suspended.

 

House Reduces the Size and Scope of Government, Increases Transparency

 

House Republicans passed a measure that keeps with the Party’s principle of smaller government. The Republican plan literally downsizes government operations and saves Tennessee taxpayers money.

 

The legislation calls for the elimination of duplicative Committees and consolidates subcommittees, as well. Overall, the move is expected to save nearly $1 million in taxpayer funds.

 

In praising the legislation, a conservative Member stated, “This legislation will save the State money while also eliminating duplication in our committee system. As Tennesseans are setting priorities in their family budgets, so too should the Legislature.”

 

With its passage, the law ensures that Tennesseans will be able to easily follow legislation as it moves through the process. It affords citizens the opportunity to be present for legislative hearings and register their thoughts and concerns on matters with their legislators.

 

Republicans Crack Down on Crime in Tennessee

 

Throughout the legislative Session, Republicans were vigilant about updating Tennessee’s criminal code to ensure it reflected modern technology and closed loopholes criminals were taking advantage of to escape paying for their actions.

 

 

Ending Meth Production and Addiction

Republicans were unanimous in their commitment to ending meth in Tennessee. The House passed HB 1051, GOP legislation that adds new criminal acts for meth production and enrolls pharmacies in a national drug exchange program that tracks pseudoephedrine purchases.

The bill is a strong reaction to the outbreak of meth use and addiction that is hurting Tennessee families. Recent news reports have detailed the numerous instances where meth production has cost lives throughout the State.

During the discussion on the legislation, one conservative House Member stated, “We cannot sit here and pretend this meth problem will go away. There are far too many families who are losing loved ones because of the ease in which meth can be created.” After passage of the legislation, a Republican proponent of the bill added, “This bill represents a smart and strong step towards stopping the creation of meth. That drug is hurting our citizens and we need to be doing all we can to put an end to its destructive effects.” The bill passed the House by a unanimous vote.

Exclusionary Rule

 

After a lengthy discussion detailing the positive ways this legislation will aid victims of crime and families of victims, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, successfully passed HB 401, “The Exclusionary Rule Reform Act,” through the full House. The final vote, 89-9, showed the measure has strong bipartisan support.

 

Republicans have been strong when it comes to protecting the rights and security of victims. Recent news reports have shown an alarming trend with violent criminals taking advantage of a loophole in Tennessee’s legal code.

 

HB 401 creates a “good faith exception” to the Exclusionary Rule so courts will have a legitimate alternative to allow evidence to be heard in a case and sets out a clear definition so there will be clarity on the issue.

 

The Republican sponsor proudly stated, “Criminals and defense attorneys have taken advantage of this loophole for years causing violent offenders, including murderers, to be released because of small clerical errors.  In an effort to protect society and honor victims, I am proud to say we have closed this loophole.”

 

As context, one news report revealed a convicted drug dealer serving 29 years for drug dealing and weapons charges will be set free because of a minor clerical error on a search warrant. When the typographical error was discovered, the Criminal Court of Appeals ruled it constituted a “fatal flaw” and all the evidence gathered in the execution of the investigation must be discarded. The flaw was a time signature that read 10:35pm when the warrant was actually written at 10:35am. HB 401 will close these types of loopholes for criminals. The Senate plans to take up its version of this bill soon.

 

Sex Offender Registry

 

Earlier this Session, House Republicans overwhelmingly passed a reform to the criminal code that closes a loophole that allows sexual offenders to find refuge. The bill requires all sexual offenders who are incarcerated, but who have not yet registered as a sexual offender or violent sexual offender, to be registered in the institution in which they are incarcerated by no later than August 1, 2011.

 

Effectively, the bill increases public safety as it will catalogue and publicize the sexual offenders around the State. It ensures those who have been convicted of a sexual offense have to sign a TBI registration form. The TBI then takes the person's information and places it into the sexual offender database.

 

The Republican sponsor of the legislation stated, “This is an important move for our General Assembly. It reinforces our commitment to increase safety for Tennessee families. I have seen the destruction and detrimental effects sexual abuse can have on victims. The fact our law currently allows some criminals to legally continue harassing their victims is unacceptable. Our Majority is committed to preventing further victimization of Tennesseans by the worst kind of criminals.”

 

Bath Salt Drugs

 

The House approved HB 457—legislation that cracks down on derivatives of the deadly drug meth otherwise known as "bath salts" or "plant foods."

 

A wave of illicit drug production and illegal use has swept through parts of Tennessee where countless residents have been rushed to the hospital from the adverse effects of the drug. Various news outlets have even reported on many deaths directly linked to the rise in drug use associated with these ingredients.

 

After passage of the legislation, the author of the legislation said, “I’m proud to have the unanimous support of my colleagues on this important issue.” He concluded, “Families in my district and across the State are being torn apart because of drug abuse. We cannot let this continue. I believe passage of this legislation moves us in the right direction for combating meth production in Tennessee. But we must do more. I will continue working with Members of the General Assembly to end the emotional toll and physical destruction meth is having on the lives of Tennesseans.”

 

Crackdown on Identity Theft

 

The House approved HB 151 in a huge bipartisan fashion 98-0. The measure ensures Tennesseans who are victims of identity theft are able to file charges in Tennessee against the individual who steals their information.

 

Currently in Tennessee, every person is liable to punishment by the laws of this state for an offense committed here. But for purposes of identity theft, there are some legal questions for the purposes of prosecution of a case.

This bill clarifies that if a victim of identity theft resides or is found in Tennessee, an essential element of the offense is therefore committed in this state and a defendant is subject to prosecution in this state, regardless of whether that individual was ever actually in Tennessee. Venue for the offense of identity theft would be in any county where an essential element of the offense was committed.

 

Following passage of his legislation, the Republican bill sponsor stated, “With our world becoming more and more connected by technology, identity theft is on the rise at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, our laws are not always as up-to-date as they should be for these types of crimes. This bill is a much-needed clarification of the law that will ensure Tennesseans have a proper recourse should someone steal their personal information.” He concluded, “This bill makes sure our citizens are protected by Tennessee law, no matter who steals their identity.”

Looting

Republicans advanced a measure in response to a recent upswing in the reports of looting taking place following this spring’s tragic storms that crossed the South and tore through Tennessee.

HB 1946, known as the “retail theft” bill, provides a new offense whereby courts may require a criminal to perform public service as designated by the court. The offender would be required to perform at least the number of hours of public service necessary to satisfy the fine assessed by the court at minimum wage.

The conservative sponsor of the legislation represents one of the areas devastated by the storms. He remarked, “Simply put, we crafted this bill to crack down on looters. These are some of the most despicable criminals who hurt families in their time of most need. Instead of just throwing them behind bars, this legislation ensures they are put to work rebuilding our communities and doing hard work to make up for their unacceptable crimes.”

 

Workplace Protection

Republicans ushered legislation to full passage that protects Tennessee workers while at their places of employment. The bill, HB 1586, addresses violence in the workplace by criminalizing extortion, coercion, and violence at work.

Recently, there have been a number of accounts of violent situations at work. In fact, a study by the U.S. Department of Labor found that 50% of firms that employ over 1,000 workers reported instances of workplace violence. Annually, over 1.7 million individuals are victims of violence at the office.

The bill sponsor seeks to put an end to those situations. He remarked, “Instituting these reforms is consistent with our efforts to make Tennessee the best right-to-work State in the nation.” Employers are also protected by the legislation and the exemption for labor unions is removed from the Tennessee Code.

Judicial Accountability Measure Passes Full House

 

In a move that many view as a way to restore accountability to the judicial system, the House passed HB 694 this Session. The bill consolidates the methods for deferral of criminal proceedings and removes an avenue that criminals could use to delay their sentence or avert taking responsibility for their actions.

 

“With the current system, criminals can avoid responsibility for their actions and that is unacceptable,” stated the Majority Chairwoman of the House. “Under this bill, defendants can still make a case in front of a judge to obtain probationary status but must take responsibility. It brings fairness to the courtroom and sends a message that accountability and victims’ rights will be respected in our judicial process.”

 

Voter Photo ID Passes House

 

Late in the final legislative week, the House passed a major reform to our electoral system that calls for Tennesseans to present a valid photo ID in order to vote. Various public opinion polls from Tennessee show citizens overwhelmingly support the common sense measure.

 

The bill, HB 7, passed the House by a wide 57-35 margin. Numerous comments were made in support of the legislation. One of the bill’s Republican backers stated, “For years, our system has operated under the premise of ‘one person, one vote.’ This bill respects that premise and removes any doubt that is the principle guiding our electoral system.”

 

By requiring a simple photo ID, the legislation institutes a common sense reform that ensures every legitimate vote in Tennessee counts. “With the technology we have in today’s world,” noted another conservative legislator, “there is no excuse to allow someone’s legitimate vote to be cancelled out by a person who shouldn’t be voting in the first place.” The Governor recently signed the bill into law.

 

Miscellaneous Items from the First Session of the 107th General Assembly

 

  • Blue Alert Law – The Governor signed into law House Bill 724, the “Blue Alert Act” that was passed by House Republicans. The new law allows the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to utilize the existing “Amber Alert” infrastructure to notify the public in an efficient and timely manner about violent criminals who have either severely injured or killed a law enforcement officer. The law costs nothing to Tennessee taxpayers, yet it greatly enhances the information available to the public about violent criminals who are at-large in their communities.

 

  • Brownfield Redevelopment – This straightforward economic development bill will help reinvigorate downtown “brownfield areas” – locations formerly occupied by factories. The law creates redevelopment zones that allowing economic studies to be conducted and plans created for how to best utilize these areas. With this legislation, communities now have a way forward to develop a solution in order to bring more job opportunities into their areas.

 

  • Unclaimed Property – House Republicans urged all citizens to visit an updated State website that features hundreds of listings for unclaimed property. In terms of property, Tennessee does not hold to a law of escheat, meaning that unclaimed property after a certain time period “returns to the crown”. The State—through the Treasury Department—holds unclaimed property until it is reclaimed by the rightful owner, or by the owner’s heirs (if the owner is deceased). Anyone can search for unclaimed properties by name at this website: http://treasury.tn.gov/unclaim/FindUnclaimed.html. 

 

  • Storm Shelter Tax Relief – Concerns over how best to help Tennesseans recover from tornadoes and strong storms led one Republican to introduce legislation that provides a tax exemption for expenses resulting from the construction of a tornado or storm shelter, as well as improvements to existing shelters. In order for an individual to qualify, the sales price per item must be $3,200 or less. The legislation will soon become law.

 

  • Taxpayer Funds Saved Through Increased Buying Power – House Republicans passed a common sense initiative to allow any emergency communications district to purchase emergency equipment under the same terms of a legal bid initiated by any other district. The new law will help save Tennesseans’ hard-earned taxpayer dollars during times of emergency when every dollar counts.

 

  • Flags for Veterans – At the urging of House Republicans, in February, the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs changed State Cemetery policies and procedures to permit decoration of all graves with American flags at each State Veterans Cemetery (East, West, and Middle) for Veterans Day and Memorial Day.  Previously, the placement of American flags on graves was permitted only on Memorial Day. The department’s change in policy regarding placement of flags on graves on Veterans Day is expected to conform to the anticipated change in Federal policy. The placement and removal of such American flags will be coordinated with the applicable Cemetery Director.

 

 

Having completed its business, the 107th General Assembly is set to reconvene at noon on January 10th, 2012.