Tennessee Special Session Recap - August 29, 2023
Special Session Recap
The Tennessee Special Session concerning public safety concluded after Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate reached an agreement on Tuesday. During this session, the Tennessee Legislature approved a total of four bills. Three of these bills had previously gone through the Senate earlier in the week, and an appropriations bill was also passed to allocate funds for these measures.
The key compromise during the session revolved around the appropriations bill. The Senate agreed to several House amendments that were not included in the Senate-passed bill. These amendments included provisions for $30 million in safety improvements for higher education institutions and $50 million in one-time funding for community mental health agencies within the state.
Over the course of approximately five work days, the two legislative chambers had been in a deadlock regarding the scope of their respective agendas. Numerous bills were introduced between both the House and Senate. While the House aimed to pass over 20 bills during the session, the Senate preferred to maintain a narrower focus, concentrating on only a few legislative pieces which were all included in the Governor's recommended legislative package.
The session concluded after the Senate agreed to consider and ultimately approve House-suggested amendments to the appropriations bill. This legislation pertained to appropriations, providing additional funding for mental health resources and school safety. As the Senate adjourned, the House also convened on Tuesday to remove all remaining items from its calendar. This decision garnered criticism from House Democrats, who argued that rushing to end the session without considering all proposed legislation was inappropriate.
Three bills, in addition to appropriations, were successfully passed. These bills focused on specific matters such as the removal of taxes on handgun safety devices, the timeline for communicating criminal court proceedings to the Tennessee Bureau of Information, and the establishment of a comprehensive statewide report concerning human trafficking.
SB7085/HB7012 - Provision of Free Gun Locks
This bill mandates the provision of free firearm locks to Tennessee residents upon request. It also includes instruction on safe firearm storage in approved handgun courses. Tax exemptions for firearm safes and safety devices will commence on November 1, 2023.
SB7086/HB7013 - Timely Submission of Criminal Records
This legislation reduces the time for notifying the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) about the final disposition of criminal cases from 30 days to 72 hours. It mandates electronic submission of notifications for circuits, general sessions, and municipal courts, ensuring prompt reporting.
SB7088/HB7041 - Annual Report on State Trafficking by TBI
This bill requires the TBI to submit an annual report on child and human trafficking incidents and trends, including the activities of their trafficking unit. The report must be submitted to the governor and legislative speakers by December 1, starting from the year 2023.
Appropriation Bill SB7089
The said appropriation bill proposes several appropriations and adjustments related to various aspects of public safety and behavioral health. The amendment recognizes the potential revenue loss of $1,600,000 (recurring) due to Senate Bill 85 / House Bill 12 related to firearm safety. It highlights the allocation of funds for different purposes, particularly emphasizing provisions aimed at benefiting behavioral health:
Section 2: An appropriation of $1,100,000 (nonrecurring) is designated to the Department of Safety for creating and implementing a public safety campaign centered around safe firearm storage, in response to Senate Bill 85 / House Bill 12.
Section 3: A sum of $10,000,000 (nonrecurring) is added to the Department of Education's budget for school safety grants. These funds are intended for public charter schools without a full-time school resource officer and schools within local education agencies that lack a full-time school resource officer.
Section 4: An allocation of $12,131,000 (nonrecurring) is directed to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for providing sign-on and retention bonuses to behavioral health professionals employed by contracted treatment agencies. Reporting requirements are specified for transparency.
Section 5: The sum of $3,000,000 (nonrecurring) is set aside for a public behavioral health scholarship program within the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. These funds are meant to support Tennessee residents pursuing behavioral health-related degrees in exchange for service with contracted treatment agencies.
Section 6: An appropriation of $4,000,000 (nonrecurring) is designated to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for the Behavioral Health Safety Net Program, aiming to enhance the provision of mental health services.
Section 7: Funds totaling $30,000,000 (nonrecurring) are allocated to the Department of Correction to provide school safety grants for higher education institutions.
Section 8: A substantial sum of $50,000,000 (nonrecurring) is directed towards grants for licensed community mental health agencies, intending to support mental health services and offer bonuses to medical practitioners.
VIDEO: Gov. Lee Statement on Public Safety Special Session
"This has been an important and difficult week for our state but we have reasons to be hopeful.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee marked the close of the special legislative session on public safety and thanked Tennesseans for engaging in continued efforts to strengthen safety across the state.