legislative update
July 5th, 2011
July 5, 2011
I wanted to give you an update on some of the most important legislation to impact our district during the last General Assembly, and how you'll see laws go into effect very soon -- if they haven't already.
Human Trafficking
Rep. Jim Coley and I helped sponsor two bills that passed and were signed by Governor Haslam tightening sex trafficking laws in Tennessee to better protect our women and children. The first bill, Senate Bill 604, lets the court system now confiscate any property of trafficking leaders, and use those profits to train law enforcement how to better target and eliminate human trafficking. The second, Senate Bill 605, provides a hotline for trafficking victims in need of help and support. Senate Bill 604 takes effect this week, and the hotline will be established by October 2011.
Shelby County-Memphis Schools
U.S. Dist. Judge Mays is still in the process of deciding a verdict in the Memphis City Schools v. Shelby County Schools case. As the chair of the Shelby Co. Delegation, I have been active in the process, encouraging my other 20 committee members that the consolidation time in the Norris-Todd law, if passed, is lengthy. Shortening the time from the law’s designated three years consolidation time to just one year would make for a smoother transition. Since the case has been taken to court, both parties agree the consolidation process is more than likely to happen; the question now is how. Judge Mays required all papers, evidence and documents to be turned into court by the end of June, so a decision concerning when and how the merger will be made -- whether by state law or a newly appointed committee -- likely will be handed down soon.
Old Forest Protections
Multiple state senators and representatives came together to help me sponsor and pass a bill to preserve Old Forest in Overton Park. On June 6, Governor Haslam signed legislation stating that 142 acres of the park’s 342 acres would be state natural areas and are now designated as a Class II Natural-Scientific Area, meaning they’re protected by law against any kind of development. Many citizen groups came together to help support this cause and see the bill’s through to completion.