It was a busy week in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Beavers is the chairman, as several important bills received approval, including a bill that adds the substance methcathinone to the list of Schedule I drugs. Meanwhile, in other action this week, the full Senate heard on first reading a “No State Income Tax” constitutional amendment resolution.Beavers is a co-prime sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 18 to clarify a prohibition in the Tennessee Constitution against an income tax and payroll tax. The resolution was approved in the Senate Finance Committee earlier this week before moving to the floor for a first reading before the full Senate.
Resolutions to amend Tennessee’s Constitution must be read aloud three times before the State Senate can cast a final vote on the measure. The proposal specifies that the legislature as well as Tennessee counties and cities shall be prohibited from passing either an income tax or payroll tax, which is a tax on employers measured by wages they pay their workers.
“Bath salts” / illegal drugs – The legislation to add six chemical derivatives of the substance methcathinone to the list of Schedule I drugs was approved unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 329 calls for violation to be subject to a Class B felony and fine of up to $100,000.
Law enforcement officials have reported a dramatic rise in the sale of the drug in some convenient stores, adult book stores and other specialty shops. It is often known by its street name of “bath salts” and has effects similar to meth or the drug Ecstacy. Hospitals are also seeing a dramatic increase in cases of this dangerous drug which can result in death. The bill now goes to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration of its fiscal impact.
Sex offenders – Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee gave approval to a bill that requires registered sexual offenders who reside in a halfway house or similar facility as an alternative to incarceration to register as sex offenders with the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the facility. Present law does not specify with whom an offender who is a resident of a halfway house must register. Senate Bill 356 makes certain that all sex offenders are properly registered with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Sex Offender Registry in the locality in which they are housed.
Bovine (cows) / Liability – The full Senate has approved Senate Bill 339 related to the liability of owners of cows. The bill is modeled after the Equine Limited Liability Law for horses which limits the liability of equine professionals and event organizers in case of injury or death resulting from the risks inherent in participating in equestrian activities. The legislation provides that in the event someone is injured on the bovine owner’s property as a result of that individual’s negligence or the unpredictable behavior of the cow, the owner is exempted from being held liable provided signs are posted regarding the limitation of liability.
Knowing exposure to hepatitis – The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved Senate Bill 52 that makes it an offense for a person with hepatitis B or C to fail to notify a person who they engage in intimate contact with, whereby Hepatitis could be transmitted. The bill also applies to those who knowingly expose another by donation of blood, tissue or other potentially infectious body fluids, or through use of needles or other drug paraphernalia.
Fallen heroes – Legislation was approved by the full Senate on Thursday calling for counties and cities to fly Tennessee’s flag at half-staff when the governor declares a day of mourning for armed services members who have died in the line of duty. The measure, Senate Bill 34, expands on Public Chapter 169 which was approved last year. That new law proclaims a day of mourning in honor of these fallen heroes and calls for their names to be recorded in the journal of the Senate and House of Representatives.
