The legislative session continues with another busy week on the hill.
A brief update on the bills in our legislative agenda:
We anticipate the Childcare authorization bill, HB1114, sponsored by Rep. Leatherwood and co-sponsored by Rep. Cooper will be up for a vote on the House floor Wednesday night. It has already passed the Senate.
The 401(k) match bill, HB1016 sponsored by Rep. Hicks and co-sponsored by Rep. Crawford and Rep. Hazelwood, which would place the $50 match into law, has passed the House. The Senate companion bill, SB0516 sponsored by Sen. Briggs, will be on the Senate State and local calendar Tuesday. We have agreed to amend the bill in the Senate to satisfy a legal concern, and we are hopeful the amended bill will begin to move through the legislative process at a faster pace.
The Pension transfer bill, SB1520 sponsored by Sen. Roberts, passed in the Senate State and Local Committee. We are hopeful it will pass on the Senate floor next week. House sponsor Rep. Weaver had the companion bill (HB1540) on the agenda for Wednesday’s House Finance Sub-committee, but the committee ran out of time. We expect the committee to hear the bill soon.
The bill to increase the 401 (k) match by $25, HB1205 sponsored by Rep. Lamberth, passed the House but was placed behind the budget. The Senate companion bill, SB1601 sponsored by Sen. Bailey, will be before the Senate Finance committee sometime in the next few weeks.
Finally, next week the supplemental budget will be announced, with hearings beginning Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in the Senate Finance committee then later in full House finance. The supplemental budget includes additions to the budget from the Governor. We will review the supplemental budget once it is released and update you on any additional funding allocated for state or higher ed employees.
Bill Status for TSEA Legislative Agenda Bills:
Burden of Proof
SB0361 | HB0954
Sponsors: Sen. Hensley, Rep. Littleton
Cosponsors: Sen. Yager
Summary: Requires a state agency in a proceeding to suspend, terminate, or discipline an employee in state service to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the employee violated state law or a rule or policy of the agency prior to taking such action
Senate Status: 3-23-2021 – Failed in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
House Status: 3-31-2021 – Returned to the Clerk’s Desk
Match on 401(k)
SB0516 | HB1016
Sponsor: Sen. Briggs, Rep. Hicks
Summary: Increases from $40 to $50 the minimum amount that the state will match to an employee’s optional retirement plan
Senate Status: 4-7-2021 – Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 4-13-2021
House Status: 4-1-2021 – Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
Child care authorization
SB0022 | HB1114
Sponsor: Sen. Kyle, Rep. Leatherwood
Cosponsor: Sen. Gardenhire, Rep. Cooper
Summary: Requires the Department of Human Services to approve, administer, and coordinate child care services for the children of state officers and employees
Senate Status: 3-11-2021 – Received from Senate, held on House desk.
House Status: 4-8-2021 – House placed on Regular Calendar for 4-14-2021
Pension Transfer
SB1520 | HB1540
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Rep. Weaver
Summary: Allows any member of the Tennessee consolidated retirement system to obtain creditable service for prior service while a participating member of a city, metropolitan government, or county retirement system.
Senate Status: 4-8-2021 – Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4-12-2021
House Status: 4-7-2021 – Placed on subcommittee calendar Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4-14-2021
Restore Longevity for all
SB0402 | HB0414
Sponsor: Sen. Jackson, Rep. Sparks
Summary: Restores longevity pay for employees of the executive branch in the service of the state hired after June 30, 2015.
Senate Status: 2-10-2021 – Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee
House Status: 2-10-2021 – Passed on Second Consideration, refer to State Government Committee; Assigned to subcommittee Public Service Subcommittee
Increase to 401(k)
SB1601 | HB1205
Sponsors: Sen. Bailey, Rep. Lamberth
Summary: Replaces the name of the “consolidated retirement board” with “board of trustees of the consolidated retirement system,” for purposes of the Tennessee consolidated retirement system
Senate Status: 3-30-2021 – Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
House Status: 4-7-2021 –Placed behind the budget
