Tennessee Eagle Forum Alerts

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I urge everyone to sign up for these email alerts, this site stays on top of all Tn. laws. Some examples are

*YOUR PRIVATE MEDICAL RECORDS IN GOVERNMENT HANDS?*

SB 2239 by *Kyle ( *HB 2289 by *Cobb C)

Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, exempts utilization review agents who are accredited by National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) from payment of annual fee; authorizes utilization review programs for the mental health and chemical dependency care to comply with either NCQA standards or Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) standards.

This is a perfectly terrible bill that needs to be stopped in its tracks. It creates a database of your private medical records with questionable guarantees of privacy, contains no ‘opt out’ for your or your physician, contains many terms not defined, and could cost a lot of money.

For more detailed information, go HERE.

SB 2239 is in Senate Finance this week; HB 2289 is in Budget Subcommittee this week.

ACTION ITEM: Go HERE to send an email of opposition to this legislation.

OPPOSING THE U.N. CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD:

*HJR 0369 by *Bell

Memorials, Congress - Urges United States Senate to reject ratification of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Anything coming from the United Nations is suspect on its face and certainly the UN should not be telling us how to raise our children. This Resolution urges our Senators to reject the ratification of the treaty.

ACTION ITEM: Go HERE to send an email of support.

PROTECTING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM:

*SB 1283 by *Bunch ( HB 1598 by *Lynn)

Religion and Religious Organizations - As introduced, prohibits a government entity from substantially burdening a person's free exercise of religion unless it demonstrates the application of the burden is essential to further a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest.

GOOD NEWS: On Thursday HB 1598 passed the House 89-1. SB 1283 is in Senate Calendar Committee. Go HERE to send an email of support to your Senator.

DEFUNDING PLANNED PARENTHOOD:

*SB 0470 by *Johnson ( HB 1756 by *Hensley)

Public Health - As introduced, establishes a new methodology for disposition of family planning funds that disburses funds to public women's health services programs before other providers are funded.

SB 470 is in Senate Finance on Tuesday; HB 1756 is in Budget Sub.

ACTION ITEM: Please go HERE to send an email to committee members.

PROTECTING STATE SOVEREIGNTY:

*HJR 0108 by *Lynn

Memorials, Congress - Urges Congress to recognize Tennessee's sovereignty under the tenth amendment to the Constitution passed the House 85-2

and is now in the Senate.

ACTION ITEM: Go HERE to send an email of support to your Senator.

KEEPING TENNESSEE FIREARMS FREE FROM FEDERAL LAWS AND REGS:

*SB 1610 by *Beavers ( HB 1796 by *West)

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act."

This bill states that federal laws and regulations do not apply to personal firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition that is manufactured in Tennessee and remains in Tennessee

On Thursday, HB 1796 passed the House 87-1; SB 1610 is in the Senate Calendar Committee.

NO GUANTANOMO PRISONERS IN STATE:

*SJR 0381 by *Tracy

General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position - Expresses opposition to the use of any local jail, state prison, or private detention facility in Tennessee to house any prisoner currently held at Guantanamo Bay.

Closely watching what is happening at the national level, Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Murfreesboro) introduced a resolution opposing bringing any of the prisoners to Tennessee.

It passed the Finance Committee 11-0 and is on the Senate Floor Tuesday.

OPPOSING THE ‘CAP AND TRADE’ SYSTEM:

*SJR 0327 by *Johnson

General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position - Declares that Tennessee will not participate in a Federally-mandated carbon cap-and-trade

The measure comes after senior U.S. administration officials indicated that if Congress does not pass comprehensive legislation providing for a cap-and-trade system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions they will press ahead unilaterally with proposals using the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s existing authority under the Clean Air Act.

This resolution passed the Finance Committee 11-0 and is on the Senate Floor Tuesday.

YOUR WEAPONS CAN’T BE CONFISCATED:

SB 1992 by *Johnson ( *HB 1778 by *Casada)

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, prohibits confiscations of lawfully possessed firearms and ammunition during periods of martial rule; clarifies firearm and ammunition restriction prohibitions during any state of emergency, major disaster, or natural disaster.

Supporters correctly pointed to the weapons seizures in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina as a reason to pass this proposal.

SB 1992 passed the senate 25-1; HB 1778passed the House 88-4-3.

GOVERNOR VETOS RESTAURANTS CARRY BILL:

SB 1127 by *Jackson ( *HB 0962 by *Todd)

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, allows person with handgun carry permit to carry in restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages as long as such person is not consuming alcoholic beverages and such restaurant is not an age-restricted venue.

SB 1127 passed the Senate 26-7: HB 962 passed the House 71-18.

Unlike other states, in Tennessee it takes only a simple majority to override a gubernatorial veto. However, on principle, some legislators will not vote to override a veto, but with the large margins in both houses it is hard to think that the veto won’t be overridden.

Veto of guns-in-bars bill may not stick

Gov. Phil Bredesen vetoed a bill Thursday that would have allowed handgun carry permit holders to take their weapons in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, sending a message that may prove only symbolic.

Read more here.

GUNS IN PARKS:

SB 0976 by *Beavers ( *HB 0716 by *Niceley)

Handgun Permits - As introduced, allows any resident who has a valid handgun carry permit to possess a handgun while within the boundaries of any state park.

Passes Senate 24-8; passed House 71-22.

TN Senate Says 'Yes' To Guns In Parks

HORSE RACING IN TENNESSEE?

*HB 2093 by *Towns

Pari-mutuel Betting - As introduced, re-establishes the Tennessee state racing commission to implement and administer the provisions of the Racing Control Act of 1987

This bill would have reinstituted the Racing Commission. The good news is that there was no senate companion, the better news is that is didn’t even get a motion when presented in committee on May 6.

PROVE CITIZENSHIP TO VOTE:

*SB 1999 by *Norris ( HB 1838 by *Todd)

Election Laws - As introduced, requires citizenship status to be proven prior to registration to vote and requires certain procedures to ensure identity and citizenship status prior to voting

Unfortunately, HB 1823 failed in a House Subcommittee.

ENGLISH IN THE WORKPLACE:

*HB 0480 by *Hill ( SB 0469 by *Johnson)

Employees, Employers - As introduced, clarifies it is not a discriminatory practice under state law for an employer to institute an English-only policy in the employer’s workplace based on business necessity. Once again, something good failed in a house subcommittee.

DRIVER LICENSE EXAMS IN ENGLISH:

HB 0293 by *Carr ( *SB 0011 by *Ketron)

Driver Licenses - As introduced, requires all written driver license examinations be given in English. SB 11 passed the Senate; HB 293 failed in a House subcommittee

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