Yesterday evening, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued the special session proclamation and presented the administration’s legislative and budget p
Yesterday evening, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued the special session proclamation and presented the administration’s legislative and budget priorities that will go before the Tennessee General Assembly during the special session on public safety, convening on August 21.
Lee said in the statement quote “As our nation faces evolving public safety threats, Tennessee remains vigilant and is taking continued action to protect communities while preserving the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. I thank the General Assembly for its continued partnership and look forward to achieving meaningful results for Tennesseans.”
Despite Lee’s insistence over the summer that he would pursue an extreme order of protection law during the session, it was noticeably missing in the administration’s bill package listed in the statement. The Tennessean and other news outlets are reporting that Lee will not pursue the legislation. Many Republicans, including leadership in both the House and Senate, had voiced their opposition to the bill.
However, the session’s parameters will allow a lawmaker to pitch a similar proposal, though it will face an uphill battle to passage.
According to the statement, Lee’s administrative package includes:
* Codifying his executive order dealing with the TBI and background checks. The proposal requires reporting from court clerks to the TBI within 72 hours.
* A TennCare mental health coverage waiver to allow federal matching funds for Medicaid to cover mental health and substance abuse services;
* Budget initiatives prioritizing hiring and retaining mental health professionals in the state;
* Eliminating certain practice requirements for psychiatric nurse training to expand access to mental health treatment;
* Greenlighting DNA collection at the time of arrest for felony crimes;
* Directing TBI to report on the state of human trafficking in Tennessee;
* Eliminating taxes on firearm safes and other safe storage initiatives.
The session is expected to last around a week but could go longer. WCLE will keep you up to date.
