2009-01-16 legislation filed

It's Friday afternoon of the first week of the 106th Tennessee General Assembly. Already 110 bills have been filed in the House--35 of them by Rep. G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) alone. He's also sponsored 3 House resolutions.

And another error for the legislative webmaster--the member links from the single digit districts end in, for example, 01.html from their legislation (which 404's) while the member list has 1.html (which does work).

Constituents should really like the ability to check on all the bills their legislator is sponsoring via that hyperlink on their legislator's page. They may say they're supporting and doing one thing back home but the proof is in the sponsoring.

There's a three week break before any legislation can start moving forward.

Lt. Gov. Ramsay announced his committee assignments yesterday. I'm happy to see Sen. Delores Gresham (R-Somerville) as head of the Senate Education Committee.

We're still waiting to hear from Speaker of the House Rep. Kent Williams (R, for now -Elizabethton) who he's appointed to the various committees. As soon as he announces those we'll know even better what is word his worth, what his idea of a bi-partisan House actually is and whether he's going to allow a Republican majority to mean anything.

*HB 0084 by Rep. Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville)

Highway Signs - As introduced, "Charles 'Chuck' Duncheskie Memorial Parkway," Dover Crossing in City of Clarksville, Montgomery County. -

*HB 0085 by Rep. George Fraley (D-Winchester)

Budget Procedures - As introduced, removes authority to transfer emergency communications funds to close fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. - Amends TCA Section 4-3-1016(d) and Chapter 1203 of the Public Acts of 2008.

*HB 0086 by Rep. John Litz (D-Morristown)

Lottery, Scholarships and Programs - As introduced, broadens eligibility for the HOPE scholarship by removing the requirement that a military parent's home of record or residence is Tennessee if a student qualifies to be classified as an in-state student and meets other specified requirements. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 9.

Yes. And we might want to expand that to include missionaries and others who are temporarily living in other nations but maintain Tennessee as their home of record.

*HB 0087 by Rep. John Litz (D-Morristown)

Jails, Local Lock-ups - As introduced, requires that applicants for the position of superintendent of a regional jail authority must submit to same criminal background check conducted in same manner as required for applicants for teacher positions. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 35 and Title 41.

Not sure why the same background check as teachers...but a background check seems reasonable.

*HB 0088 by Rep. John Litz (D-Morristown)

Jails, Local Lock-ups - As introduced, decreases the amount of clear floor space required in adult local detention facilities for both new and existing facilities and for single-occupancy and multiple-occupancy cells. - Amends TCA Title 41, Chapter 4.

*HB 0089 by Rep. David Shephard (D-Dickson)

Highway Signs - As introduced, "William Fiser Memorial Bridge," Big Barton's Creek on State Route 48 in Dickson County. -

*HB 0090 by Rep. Ryan Haynes (R-Knoxville)

Private Investigators - As introduced, revises experience requirements for a private investigations company license. - Amends TCA Section 62-26-206.

HB 0091 by Rep. Jim Cobb (R-Spring City) ( SB 0024 by Sen. Ken Yager (R-Harriman) )

Rhea County - As introduced, subject to local approval, repeals the ban on partisan elections for county executive and county legislative body of Rhea County. - Amends Chapter 322 of the Private Acts of 1978.

*HB 0092 by Rep. Jim Cobb (R-Spring City) ( SB 0023 by Sen. Ken Yager (R-Harriman)

School Transportation - As introduced, allows school buses to be used up to 20 years of service, subject to annual safety inspections, by extending permissible, yearly waiver limit for their service life after initial 12 years of service from current three years to eight years. - Amends TCA Section 49-6-2109.

*HB 0093 by Rep. Gary Moore (D-Joelton)

Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As introduced, requires criminal background checks to be conducted for direct care employees prior to employment. - Amends TCA Section 68-11-256.

*HB 0094 by Rep. Gary Moore (D-Joelton)

Firefighters - As introduced, requires compensation paid to firefighters due to injury or death in the line of duty or course of employment be administered by the commission on firefighting personnel standards and education. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 24 and Title 7, Chapter 51.

It's not unusual for legislators to carry bills for their profession. This bill's sponsor Rep. Moore is a firefighter. Actually his bio lists:

• First Vice President Nashville Fire Fighters Union IAFF Local 140,
• Past President of the Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association
• Past President of the Southern Federation of Professional Fire Fighters

*HB 0095 by Rep. Gary Moore (D-Joelton)

Motor Vehicles - As introduced, prohibits operation of bicycles on River Road in Davidson County between U.S. Highway 70 / S.R. 24 and the Cheatham County line. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 8.

*HB 0096 by Rep. Gary Moore (D-Joelton)

Taxes, Agricultural and Open Spaces - As introduced, permits an individual's property that does not meet the minimum size requirements for greenbelt classification to be aggregated with contiguous property owned by others who are related to the individual by blood, marriage, or adoption for the purpose of meeting the minimum size requirements. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 10.

*HB 0097 by Rep. Gary Moore (D-Joelton)

Health Care - As introduced, requires that newborns be tested for hyperbilirubinemia in addition to other metabolic/genetic defects. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 5, Part 4.

So those newborn tests would include: phenylketonuria, hypothyroidism, galactosemia, and if this bill passes, hyperbilirubinemia.

*HB 0098 by Rep. Gary Moore (D-Joelton)

Drugs - As introduced, requires pharmacies to treat any over-the-counter medication containing chlorpheniramine (also known as chlorphenamine maleate) as an immediate methamphetamine precursor. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17.

*HB 0099 by Rep. Gary Moore (D-Joelton)

Mortgages - As introduced, delays the sale of land to foreclose a loan, mortgage, or deed of trust for a period of time; requires first publication of notice be at least 90 days prior to sale instead of at least 20 days prior to sale. - Amends TCA Section 35-5-101.

*HB 0100 by Rep. Gary Moore (D-Joelton)

Highway Signs - As introduced, "Corporal Jessie William Gammons Memorial Bridge," State Highway 100 in Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. -

*HB 0101 by Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga)

Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - As introduced, allows children, up to age 24, of retired teachers to receive a 25 percent discount at any state-supported institution of higher learning. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 7.

Little perks like this for teachers are sprinkled throughout the law and more of them regularly appear in new legislation. The next time you're told how underpaid teachers are...keep in mind that not every benefit appears on their paycheck stub. That's not to say they don't earn the extra benefit. I'm just saying they exist.

*HB 0102 by Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga)

Education - As introduced, deletes requirement that extension of contract of director of schools be the first item on the agenda for the meeting at which action on the contract is to be taken. - Amends TCA Section 49-2-203.

*HB 0103 by Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga)

Schools, Private and Charter - As introduced, opens enrollment in charter schools, after enrollment priorities are met, to all students and removes caps on the number of charter schools that may be formed. - Amends TCA Title 49.

Right off the bat a key change here is the difference between the current law:

The prospective student population shall be:

and this bill's proposed wording:

Priority in the prospective student population shall be given to, but
the prospective student population need not be limited to:

A very good start. We need more charter schools. We need to allow more students access to those schools. Unfortunately, still a prohibition against cyber charter schools. That's a pity as they serve a legitimate need for many families. They are also less expensive since brick and mortar facilities aren't required.

*HB 0104 by Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga)

Sewage - As introduced, requires an entity that owns a sanitary sewer to maintain the sanitary sewer and building service and any portion of any lateral or connection located beyond the property line of a customer. - Amends TCA Title 5, Chapter 16; Title 6; Title 7, Chapter 34; Title 7, Chapter 35; Title 9, Chapter 21 and Title 68, Chapter 221.

*HB 0105 by Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga)

Campaigns and Campaign Finance - As introduced, allows corporations to make campaign contributions up to the same limits as individuals, LLCs, or partnerships can contribute. - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 10 and Title 2, Chapter 19, Part 1.

*HB 0106 by Rep. Judd Metheny (R-Tullahoma

Safety - As introduced, requires the emergency medical services board to develop standards for the operation and maintenance of emergency vehicles that impose certain mileage restrictions. - Amends TCA Title 68.

*HB 0107 by Rep. Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol)

Motor Vehicles - As introduced, prohibits sending or reading text messages while operating a motor vehicle. - Amends TCA Title 55.

Can we not just incorporate all these other activities under driving while distracted? Or are we going to always have to be one step behind and amend the code AFTER we figure out what took the driver's attention away from the more important task of navigating their one ton (or more) vehicle safely through the state?

*HB 0108 by Rep. Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol)

Alcoholic Beverages - As introduced, permits a wholesale license to be granted in a municipality that has approved the sale of alcoholic beverages instead of being limited to a municipality having a population of more than 100,000. - Amends TCA Section 57-3-203.

*HB 0109 by Rep. Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol)

Criminal Procedure - As introduced, clarifies that a person alleged to have violated a condition of probation can be issued a summons to appear in court on the violation as well as arrested. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 35, Part 3.

*HB 0110 by Rep. Glen Casada (R-Franklin)

Notary Public - As introduced, requires continuing education and exams for notaries; requires notaries to maintain journal enteries; authorizes notaries to perform electronic notarizations. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 16.

From the Senate:

*SB 0020 by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsay (R-Blountville)

Highway Signs - As introduced, "SP4 Arthur Wayne Glover Memorial Bridge," S.R. 44 in Sullivan County. -

*SB 0022 by Sen. Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City)

Motor Vehicles - As introduced, extends application deadline for Appalachian Trail new specialty license plate until June 30, 2010. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 4, Part 2.

*SB 0026 by Sen. Eric Stewart (D-Belvidere)

Highway Signs - As introduced, "Jerry Cooper Highway," new four-lane segment of U.S. Highway 70S in Warren County. -

RESOLUTIONS:

HJR 0011 by Rep. Jason Mumpower (R-Bristol)

General Assembly, Joint Conventions - Calls joint convention for Monday, February 9, 2009, for purpose of hearing budget address and transmittal of the budget. -

HJR 0014 by Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga)

Memorials, Sports - Ooltewah Lady Owls -

HJR 0015 by Rep. Jimmy Eldridge (R-Jackson)

Memorials, Professional Achievement - Ron Campbell -

HR 0004 by Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga)

Memorials, Death - Ralph Mohney, Sr. -

SJR 0016 by Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville)

General Assembly, Recess & Reconvene - Adjourns 106th general assembly organizational session at close of business in both houses on January 15, 2009, and convenes regular session immediately thereafter; recesses 106th general assembly regular session until February 9, 2009. -

SJR 0017 by Sen. Douglas Henry (D-Nashville)

Memorials, Recognition - Centennial Park, National and Tennessee Registers of Historic Places -

SJR 0018 by Sen. Douglas Henry (D-Nashville)

Memorials, Death - Wallace Rasmussen -