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BILL WATCH
Bill Watch is a service of the Knoxville Bar Association Legislative Committee. During each week of the legislative session, the KBA will distribute an updated report, through the support of Stephanie D. Coleman of Owings, Wilson & Coleman. The report will indicate progress and recent actions taken on the bills of interest to KBA members.
You can also get information about the General Assembly, including the text of bills and floor and committee calendars, by accessing the legislative web site at www.capitol.tn.gov.
Minor healthcare – SB1, which would prohibit minors from undergoing medical procedures to change their gender identity, passed the Judiciary Committee this week. It will now advance to the Senate floor for a final vote.
Summer school/afterschool — The Senate Education Committee this week passed legislation that would indefinitely extend summer and after-school learning camps implemented on a temporary basis during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the summers following the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years, all school districts in the state were required to offer in-person learning loss remediation and student acceleration programs, including summer camps, summer learning camps, after-school learning mini camps and learning loss bridge camps. Senate Bill 249 received unanimous support by the Education Committee this week.
Deaf children — Senate Bill 4, which would create a deaf mentor and parent advisor program, received unanimous support from the Senate Education Committee this week. Implemented in 2019 on a pilot basis, the program assists families in implementing bilingual and bicultural home-based programming for young children who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind. The program would be available at the West Tennessee School for the Deaf in Jackson; the Tennessee School for the Deaf, Knoxville campus; and the Tennessee School for the Deaf, Nashville campus.
Education savings account program — Legislation expanding Tennessee’s education savings account pilot program to Hamilton County advanced out of the Senate Education Committee this week. The pilot was established in 2019 to serve low-income students zoned to public schools in Metro Nashville, Shelby County and the state’s Achievement School District (ASD). Senate Bill 12 adds only Hamilton County to the list of counties participating in the pilot.
Retaining teachers — Senate Bill 578 allows teachers who are delinquent or in default on student loans to retain their teaching license and continue to teach. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee this week.
Department of Children’s Services teachers — Senate Bill 244 makes DCS-employed teachers who work at youth developmental centers eligible for pay performance increases and longevity pay if they qualify.
Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance – Legislation regarding the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance passed the State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday. Senate Bill 158 simplifies certain procedures for the Tennessee Ethics committee, including disclosures, the Commission’s annual reports, and informal advisory opinions. Similarly, Senate Bill 159 allows the executive director to hire or replace Bureau staff without board approval, establishes procedures to address and write off civil penalties that cannot be collected due to death or other issues and allows the registry and ethics committee to use email for notice to filers.
License plates — The Senate Transportation and Safety Committee this week advanced several bills pertaining to license plates. Senate Bill 366 allows emergency communication dispatchers to be eligible for emergency personnel license plates. Senate Bill 402 grants licensed physical therapists the authority to allow disabled persons to obtain disabled license plates and placards. Finally, Senate Bill 257 eliminates the license plate fee for parents or guardians of people who are permanently confined to a wheelchair and who do not own or operate a vehicle.
Registers of Deeds – To assist visually impaired citizens, the State and Local Government Committee passed Senate Bill 124, which requires documents be submitted to the Register of Deeds in a minimum 12-point font.
Public records – Senate Bill 86, approved in the State and Local Government Committee, requires that regardless of occupation, no person gets expeditious treatment over another when requesting public records.
