Legislative Update – 3-15-19

TSEA March 15, 2019 Comments Off on Legislative Update – 3-15-19
Legislative Update – 3-15-19

The voices of state employees were heard loud and clear this week in two important committees on the Longevity Pay bill and the DCS Caseload bill, two major bills in our 2019 Legislative Agenda.

The DCS Caseload bill, HB0921 sponsored
by Rep. Cepicky and part of our Legislative Agenda, passed the House Judiciary
Committee on Wednesday. We thank Rep. Cepicky, Rep. M. Hill, and Rep. Littleton
for their work on this important legislation as well as all of the members on
the full Judiciary Committee who recommended passage of the bill.

The next stop for the DCS Caseload bill
is the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee on 3/20/2019.

The Longevity Pay bill, HB0900
sponsored by Rep. Sparks and part of our Legislative Agenda, passed the House
State committee Tuesday on a roll call vote with 12 Ayes (Yeses) and 5 Noes.
Representatives voting aye were: Eldridge, Hawk, Hicks, Keisling, Littleton,
Love, Powell, Ramsey, Sanderson, Shaw, Staples, and Todd.

We thank bill sponsor Rep. Sparks and
Co-Sponsors Rep. T. Hill, Rep. Moody, Rep. Hawk, Rep. Byrd, Rep. Howell, Rep.
Moon, Rep. M. Hill, and Rep. Staples for their work on this vital legislation.

The next stop for the Longevity Bill is
House Finance.

The Burden of Proof bill, HB0644 Sponsored by Rep. T. Hill, was taken off notice this week as we meet with the administration to find a workable compromise.

We are also working with Senate leaders on scheduling our bills in the Senate.


TSEA this week also had the following three bills up in various committees:

Longevity for All

SB0689 Sen. Jackson
HB0900 Rep. Sparks
Status:
Senate: 02/07/19 – Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
House: 03/12/19 – House State Committee recommended. Sent to House Finance.

Burden of Proof

SB0621 Sen. Hensley, Co-Prime Sponsor: Sen. Yager
HB0644 Rep. T. Hill
Status:
Senate: 02/07/19 – Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
House: 03/12/19 – Taken off notice in House State Committee while we meet with the administration.

DCS Caseloads

SB0616 Sen. Hensley
HB0921 Rep. Cepicky, Co-Prime Sponsor: Rep. M. Hill
Status:
Senate: Set for Senate Judiciary Committee 03/19/19.
House: Set for House Finance, Ways & Means Subcommittee 03/20/19.


TSEA Legislative Agenda bills awaiting assignment:

TEAM Act Improvements

SB1269 Sen. Pody
HB0778 Rep. Ramsey
Will seek to correct deficiencies found in the application of the TEAM Act bill regarding several different areas of the preferred service section for employees.
Status:
Senate: 02/11/19 – Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
House: Awaiting assignment.

TCRS Oversight by Treasurer

SB1182 Sen. Bowling      
HB1304 Rep. Baum
This bill enables the Treasurer of the State of Tennessee to have input regarding the impact on TCRS from outsourcing state jobs.
Status:
Senate: 02/11/19 – Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
House: Awaiting assignment

Across the Board Raises

SB0622 Sen. Hensley
HB1251 Rep. Byrd
This bill addresses across-the-board pay raises.
Status:
Senate: 02/07/19 – Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
House: Awaiting assignment


For more information on the bills in our legislative agenda, as well as other bills we are monitoring, please visit:
http://bit.ly/TSEA2019Legislation