Legislative session continues along with only another week of department budget hearings. TSEA has been carefully watching to make sure the items important to state employees, higher ed, and retirees are continuing to be safe. Some of those items include:
- 4% salary pool for pay for performance and each of the higher education institutions
- $120 million funding for the new market study currently being conducted
- $300 million for TCRS funding
- $300 million for post-retirement insurance costs
- Temporary $100 match on the 401(k)
This week, TSEA held meetings with Senate Finance Chairman Bo Watson (Chattanooga) and House Budget Subcommittee Chairman Gary Hicks (Rogersville). These meetings focused on three priorities:
- Making sure the market study is more transparent and that we begin by knowing how much investment would be needed to fund the entire plan.
- Addressing the additional money that the TN Senate has added to the DCS budget to bring the caseworker series to market. We requested that the ranges be moved by DoHR first, then this additional money be added to maximize the increase for the employees.
- Funding for the Equalization of Correctional Teachers Pay, and if that could be partially funded with money already in the budget.
Legislation
Below are bill numbers for key legislation we are monitoring or working to advance:
As a reminder, Livestreams and videos of legislative meetings and activities are accessible on the legislative calendar page at this link: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/schedule/
To view our 2022 Legislative Priorities, click here.
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Burden of Proof – PASSED by the legislature and signed by Gov. Lee
Status:
Signed by Gov. Lee – 3/15/2022
House: Passed H., Ayes 92, Nays 0, PNV 0 – 2/28/2022
Senate: Passed Senate, Ayes 33, Nays 0 – 2/28/2022
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DCS caseloads – PASSED by the legislature | On Gov’s Desk
HB2163 – Lamberth, Gant, Vital | SB2413 – Johnson, Jackson
Summary: As introduced, specifies that the average caseloads of case managers must be calculated at least monthly.
Status:
House: Passed H., Ayes 92, Nays 0, PNV 0 – 3/7/2022
Senate: Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0 – 3/7/2022
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TDOC Salary Increase
HB2339 – Windle | SB2345 Yager
Summary: As introduced, increases wages and salaries of preferred service employees of the department by 15 percent.
Status:
House: Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee, Wednesday, 3/23/2022
Senate: General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee
Note: In the House, the bill was amended to add in some parole board employees and remove security correctional staff.
This bill has generated a lot of questions from not only Corrections employees but also legislators and even other departments. TSEA expects the discussion and negotiation around this bill and its potential effects throughout the state’s pay plan to continue till late in the session. Therefore, it is impossible to accurately answer any questions with concrete facts. The one thing we do know from years of working with the sponsors of this legislation is that Rep. John Mark Windle (Livingston) and Senator Ken Yager (Kingston) will continue to fight for state employees until the gavel closes session.
The fiscal note for this bill is $30M.
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Higher Education – Grievance Procedures on website
HB2568 – Ragan | SB2666 – Bell
Summary: As introduced, requires each institution governed by the board of regents, a state university board, or the board of trustees for the University of Tennessee to make the grievance procedure for the institution’s support staff employees available on its website.
Status:
House: House Floor – Date TBD
Senate: Senate Education Committee – Wednesday, 3/23/2022
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State Parks Funding Act
HB2168 – Lamberth, Gant | SB2418 – Johnson, Southerland, Walley
Summary: As introduced, enacts the “State Parks Funding Act of 2022.”
Status:
House: Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee, Wednesday, 3/23/2022
Senate: Senate Floor, Monday, 3/21/2022
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Pensions and Retirement Benefits (correction to 2021 pension transfer bill)
HB2450 – Weaver | SB2812 – Roberts
Summary: As introduced, authorizes a member of the Tennessee consolidated retirement system to purchase, instead of obtain, retirement credit for all of the member’s previous service rendered while a full-time employee and participating member of a political subdivision’s defined benefit retirement plan; authorizes the member to use funds from any source to purchase such retirement credit; makes other related revisions.
Status:
House: House Floor, Monday, 3/21/2022
Senate: Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0, 3/7/2022
Notes: This bill is a correction to the pension transfer bill from last year that could not be implemented due to a conflict with federal law.
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TCRS administration system upgrade
HB2273 – Williams | SB2152 – Hensley
Summary: As introduced, allows the retirement system to procure goods and services for a pension administration system that may replace the system currently in existence, subject to appropriation made in the general appropriations act.
Status:
House: House Floor, Monday, 3/21/2022
Senate: Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0, 3/7/2022
Notes: This bill seeks to upgrade the states concord system for TCRS
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Essential Employee TCRS Credit for Service During Covid
HB1658 – Russell, Griffey, C. Johnson | SB1805 – Massey, Jackson, Swann, Pody
Summary: As introduced, establishes COVID-19 essential employee retirement service credit for members of the Tennessee consolidated retirement system and participants in the state’s hybrid retirement plan.
Status:
House: Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee, Wednesday, 3/23/2022
Senate: Senate State and Local Government Committee, Tuesday, 3/22/2022
Note: To attempt to lower the fiscal note, an amendment was recently added by the sponsors to only cover employees in law enforcement and emergency medical services. The amendment eliminated the vast majority of state employees we had hoped to cover. The Council on Pension recently gave the bill a negative recommendation despite the amendment, which will make it very hard to pass and fund.
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Correctional Teacher Pay
HB0846 – Sherrell, Cooper | SB1599 – Bailey, Yager
Summary: As introduced, requires the board of control of the Tennessee corrections institute to maintain a list of correctional teachers that includes their academic background and qualifications to teach.
Status (as of last year):
House – Taken Off Notice for calendar in Subcomm. of FW&M Comm. (5/2021)
Senate – General Subcomm. of FW&M Comm. (5/2021)
Note: TDOC and Sen. Bailey are meeting with the Governor about funding for this bill. We are also checking to make sure it is already ‘behind the budget’ in the Senate. Rep. Sherrell will put it on notice in the House to also get it ‘behind the budget’. These actions would put the bill in a position to pass if Governor Lee funds it.
TSEA Lobby Day
Tuesday, April 5 – Nashville, TN
This year, we will have our traditional format for the day, beginning the day in the House Chamber and then moving to the 8th Floor Cordell Hull Building for a luncheon with legislators from 11 am to 1 pm. All legislators are being invited to join you on the 8th Floor for the luncheon, however, we know they may not all be available during that time, and you may have to make an appointment to visit with them in their offices.
Make your plans now to attend Lobby Day on April 5. To attend Lobby Day and request overnight lodging for members attending that are from outside of Nashville, please register on our website at tseaonline.org or use this direct link:
You can now register to attend this year’s Lobby Day here:
https://tseaonline.formstack.com/forms/lobby_day
Thank you for being a member of TSEA and for your dedication and commitment to serving Tennessee. Please continue to monitor your email for the latest updates.
Not a member? Join TSEA today at http://tseaonline.org/jointsea/
