As another week closes on the hill, the legislature is moving swiftly to finish its session by mid-April. We’re keeping a close eye on the bills we’re monitoring, and we anticipate the general assembly will tackle the supplemental budget soon. As the legislative session progresses, we are actively monitoring budget discussions to ensure funding for raises remains secure, seeking opportunities to continue the enhanced 401(k) match, and vigilantly tracking legislative developments that impact your interests.
TEAM PAC visits Capitol Hill
In case you missed it, TEAM PAC committee members were in Nashville last week. Here is a recap of their visit: https://www.facebook.com/tseaonline/videos/388777633878556
TEAM PAC at the TN General Assembly in Nashville. (Pictured L to R: TSEA Executive Director LaTanya McAdoo, TSEA President Donnie Cole, TEAM PAC Chair Pat Bowman, West Region Member Jimmie Trice-Baylor, East Region Member Courtney Anderson, TEAM PAC Secretary Jackie Coleman-Robinson)
Bills we’re monitoring:
(NOTE: We may add additional bills to this list as legislative session progresses)
Senate: Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 1
House: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/25/2024
Salaries and Benefits – As introduced, establishes a program under which a state employee may receive up to six weeks of paid leave if the employee becomes a foster parent of a minor child. – Amends TCA Title 3; Title 8; Title 16 and Title 50.
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SB1941/HB2143 Haile, Martin, G – Passed, awaiting signatures
Senate: Passed Senate 33-0, 2/24/2024, Signed by Senate Speaker 3/20/2024
House: Passed House, Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0
State Employees – As introduced, permits employees of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government to complete Tennessee foster parent training and in-service training during the course of their employment without having to use paid sick, annual, or compensatory time up to a certain amount of time. – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 37 and Title 71.
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SB2007/HB1960 Campbell, Powell
Senate: Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/27/2024
House: Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/26/2024
Hospitals and Health Care Facilities – As introduced, authorizes public hospitals, upon approval of the hospital’s governing body, to establish a state employee and retiree healthcare incentive program that will allow for the waiver of applicable out-of-pocket expenses associated with medical care at the public hospital for state employees and retirees and their covered dependents participating in the state group insurance plan. – Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27.
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SB2081/HB2088 Johnson, Lamberth
Senate: Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0
House: Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/27/2024
Military – As introduced, authorizes the military department to administer a critical skills retention bonus program to be used to award retention bonuses of up to $10,000 to enlisted service members in the Tennessee National Guard; entitles certain state employees who are members of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or the national guard to special leave with partial pay during a period in which the members have been called to active duty. – Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 1, Part 1.
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SB1840/HB1815 – Bill failed in committee
Senate: Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
House: Failed in s/c Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee of Civil Justice Committee 3/12/24
Foster Care – As introduced, establishes a pilot program for five years to allow private entities to provide foster care services to qualifying children; requires the department of children’s services to create a process for selecting children for the program; directs the pilot program to submit monthly reports to the state foster care review board; requires the comptroller to audit the program. – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 36 and Title 37.
