Legislative Update – Week Ending 2-22-19

TSEA February 22, 2019 Comments Off on Legislative Update – Week Ending 2-22-19
Legislative Update – Week Ending 2-22-19
TSEA this week met with the new commissioner of DOHR Juan Williams and his staff. We had a good discussion about the longevity and burden of proof bills which are a part of our legislative agenda, and overall we believe the meeting went well.
On the Hill, we continue to meet with legislators about the bills in our legislative package. We anticipate committees will begin to schedule these bills sometime around the beginning of March.
Last night’s dinner in Chattanooga was the first of our Legislative events, and we were encouraged by the interest and attendance from state employees. We thank Rep. Yusuf Hakeem for making time last night to meet with state employees.

Below is a list of bill numbers and sponsors in both the House and Senate.

(*indicates legislation also applies to Higher Education employees)


Longevity for All

SB0689 Sen. Jackson
HB0900 Rep. Sparks
TSEA believes employees should not be divided into two classifications for pay and benefits. The first step in correcting this is to bring back longevity for all state employees.

Committees:
Senate State and Local Government
House Public Service & Employees Subcommittee

 

Burden of Proof

SB0621 Sen. Hensley
Co-Prime Sponsor: Sen. Yager
HB0644 Rep. T. Hill
TSEA believes the State of Tennessee bears the burden of proof when they take disciplinary action against an employee that is appealable. This bill would clarify the relevant language in state statute.

Committees:
Senate State and Local Government
House Public Service & Employees Subcommittee

 

DCS Caseloads

SB0616 Sen. Hensley
HB0921 Rep. Cepicky
This bill requires the maximum caseload in some cases to be 20 instead of the average of 20, and 10 cases for foster care workers.

Committees:
Senate Judiciary Committee
House Children & Families Committee

 

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.

Committees:
Senate State and Local Government
Awaiting assignment in the House

 

*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.

Committees:
Senate State and Local Government
Awaiting assignment in the House

 

Across the Board Raises

SB0622 Sen. Hensley
HB1251 Rep. Byrd
This bill addresses across-the-board pay raises.

Committees:
Senate State and Local Government
Awaiting assignment in the House


Other Bills we support:

*Daycare for employees

SB0741 Sen. Kyle
HB 1207 Rep. Mitchell

Daycare for state employees administered through their departments or institution. Higher Education employees intended to be included.

 

*Grievance procedure for higher ed support staff made available on institution’s website

SB188 Sen. Gresham
HB116 Rep. Sparks
Requires each institution governed by the board of regents or a state university board to make available on its website the grievance procedure for its support staff.

 

*Revises Public Employee Political Freedom Act of 1980

SB569 Sen. Bowling
HB1087 Rep. Bricken
Specifies that employers cannot terminate employees for communication with public officials, revises court compensation for employees terminated under these terms from treble damages plus attorney fees to compensatory damages plus attorney fees.

 

*Tennessee State Family Leave Act

SB647 Sen. Kyle
HB514 Rep. Johnson

This bill deals with family and medical leave insurance benefits.

 

Prohibitions in statements to fiscal review committee

SB428 Sen. Gardenhire
HB1069 Rep. Sanderson
Prohibits any executive level state employee, lobbyist or employee of a contractor from providing false information to the fiscal review committee.

Reminder, the House Higher Education subcommittee meets Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. and is live-streamed from the legislature’s website.

The Full House State Committee and Senate State and Local Committee meet Tuesday’s at 10:30 a.m. and can also be live streamed from the legislative website.

For live-streaming committee hearings, calendars, and other legislative information, visit the Legislature’s website here:

http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/