The fourth and fifth weeks of the 2nd session of the 110th General Assembly provided positive movement for our association.
TSEA was able to secure sponsors for all of our legislation, plus, four bills from our legislative agenda moved through committees in the House and Senate, including one bill which passed the House during Wednesday’s floor session.
While the actions these past two weeks show a positive response to TSEA’s aggressive legislative agenda, there is more work to be done. In the coming weeks, TSEA’s lobby team will work with sponsors to help ensure state employees are being treated with the respect they deserve.
Below, is a list of some, but not all, of
TSEA’ssupported legislation and highlights of the bills that were on the move or passed during the past two weeks.
– Bills on the Move –
Bill limiting DCS caseloads passes House
The House during Wednesday morning’s floor session (2/7/2018), after substituting and conforming to the Senate version of the bill, unanimously passed an amended version of SB1168.
This bill as amended Wednesday would require the Department of Children’s Services to maintain case manager staffing levels so that case manager caseloads do not exceed the average of 20 active cases relating to initial assessments or the average of 20 children monitored and supervised per case manager.
HB972/SB1168 is sponsored by Rep. Courtney Rogers and Senator Joey Hensley, and is part of TSEA’s legislative agenda. During the 2017 session of the General Assembly, SB1168 was passed unanimously by the Senate.
The original bill limited caseloads to not more than 20, however, the amendmentchanged the language to be the average of 20.
The bill as amended by the House now moves back to the Senate.
Bill to increase the Employee Suggestion Award passes House State Gov. Sub
Also on Wednesday (2/7/18), HB1788 was amended and passed by the House State Gov. Subcommittee.
HB1788/SB1919 is sponsored by Rep. Martin Daniel and Sen. Steven Dickerson and is part of TSEA’s 2018 legislative agenda.
This bill would increase the cash award for the Employee Suggestion Award program from 10-percent to 15-percent and removes the $10K limit on the maximum cash amount awarded.
Discussion of the bill included out of session testimony from DOHR Commissioner Rebecca Hunter and F&A Commissioner Larry Martin. We encourage you to watch the 30-minute discussion here: https://goo.gl/MX4u6C
Currently, the maximum cash award is limited to ten percent (10%) of the first year’s estimated savings or ten thousand dollars ($10,000), whichever is less.
HB1788/SB1919 as drafted removes the cap of $10k, raises the award to fifteen percent (15%) of the annual savings realized in a fiscal year, requires payment within ninety (90) days of the end of each fiscal year in which the savings have been realized, and limits the award to the first three (3) fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the suggestion was made. An amendment to the bill added by the subcommittee prior to passage limits the award to a one-time payout in the first year.
The bill moves on to the full House State Government Committee.
Senate State and Local Gov Committee passes Contract Accountability Bill
On Tuesday (2/6/18) the Senate State and Local Government Committee passed an amended version of SB1047, now known as the Contract Accountability and Responsible Employment (CARE) Act. To view Tuesday’s discussion on this bill, follow this link: https://goo.gl/L1hN1H
SB1047/HB944, sponsored by Sen. Janice Bowling and Rep. Tilman Goins, was studied extensively over the summer, and is part of TSEA’s legislative agenda.
In summary, this bill as amended states that if a contract for services between a state agency and a private party is in excess of $2.5 million dollars and results in a furlough or layoff for 1 or more state employees, the agency must provide an economic impact statement (EIS) to the fiscal review committee. For the purposes of this section of code, “state agency” also includes institutions of higher education.
This EIS shall be submitted to fiscal review for distribution to the members of the general assembly no less than 45 days prior to the execution of the contract.
The chair of fiscal review may then schedule a hearing to review the EIS.
A state agency notified of an EIS hearing shall provide the fiscal review committee, upon request, any information reasonably related to the proposed contract that the committee deems relevant; provided, that a state agency is not required to produce privileged information or any record that is not open for public inspection pursuant to state law.
This bill applies only to contracts procured on and after the effective date of this act.
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– Part 1 of TSEA’s Legislative Bill Package –
SB2686/HB2601 Sen. Bailey, Paul, Rep. Windle, John
Summary: Requires an area manager to notify a person’s appointing authority if the area manager determines a state employee is eligible for food stamp assistance. Requires the notified appointing authority to raise the person’s compensation to a level that makes the person ineligible for food stamp assistance within 60 days of receiving such notice.
Senate Status: 02/05/18 – Referred to Senate Health & Welfare Committee.
House Status: 02/08/18 – Set for House State Government Subcommittee 02/14/18.
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SB2441/HB2596 Sen. Briggs, Richard, Rep. Windle, John
Summary: Requires TDOT to have law enforcement presence at hazardous work zones.
Senate Status: 02/05/18 – Referred to Senate Transportation & Safety Committee.
House Status: 02/08/18 – Set for House State Government Subcommittee 02/14/18.
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SB2300/HB2497 Sen. Harris, Lee, Rep. Towns Jr., Joe
Summary: Requires law enforcement personnel located at the Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville to only be provided by the Tennessee highway patrol.
Senate Status: 02/05/18 – Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
House Status: 02/08/18 – Set for House State Government Subcommittee 02/14/18.
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SB1145/HB1188 Sen. Hensley, Joey , Rep. Hill, Matthew
Amendment Summary: House State Government Committee Amendment 1 (006651) rewrites the bill. Deletes all language from the original bill which creates the 17-member Select Oversight Committee on Correction. Adds contingencies for the Select Oversight Committee on TennCare to employ staff or to enter into contracts for technical or professional services, if legislative staff are unable to staff the committee or provide the relevant professional services required of the committee. Sets the number of meetings for the Select Oversight Committee on TennCare to be at least 3 during the legislative session, rather than at least quarterly, with other meetings being subject to the call of the chair. Removes the sunset provision applicable to the Select Oversight Committee on TennCare. Requires the Speaker of the House to appoint the 5 required members to the Select Oversight Committee on Children’s Services from the House Civil Justice Committee, rather than from the House Health Committee. Sets the number of meetings of the Select Oversight Committee on Children’s Services to be twice a month during the legislative session, rather than monthly, with other meetings being subject to the call of the chair. Adds the Department of Human Services (DHS) to the list of entities required to provide the Select Oversight Committee on Children’s Services with any financial or other relevant information as it may require. Adds the DHS to the list of entities for which the Select Oversight Committee in Children’s Services shall perform legislative oversight. Establishes that both oversight committees created by this legislation shall cease to exist as of June 30, 2020.
Fiscal Note: (Dated March 2, 2017) Increase State Expenditures Exceeds $351,100
Senate Status: 04/10/17 – Taken off notice in Senate Health & Welfare Committee.
House Status: 02/08/18 – Set for House Finance, Ways & Means Subcommittee 02/14/18.
– On Tap Next Week –
Click Here for the calendar of legislative activity your lobbying team will be tracking for the week of 2-12-18.
How to Stay Informed this Session
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