Thread: Tennessee (2010) NEW LAWS PASSED

Tennessee (2010) Session

Bill: HB0370....passed the Senate 5/10/2010

Bill Summary
Present law requires that certain information be included in an applicant's permanent registration record for voting (such as name, address, birth date and place, social security number (if any), whether the applicant has been convicted of a felony, whether the applicant is a U.S. citizen, and whether the applicant is a Tennessee resident). Under present law, qualified voters may register by mail by use of postal card forms. The registration forms must include such matter as the coordinator of elections requires to ascertain the qualifications of an individual applying to register and to prevent fraudulent registration.

This bill requires proof of U.S. citizenship to vote. This bill requires that printed registration cards also include the following information regarding the applicant:
Full Text:
http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInf ... ber=HB0270

Mission: (support)

Task: Call and E-mail all members of the House and ask them to support this legislation

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Bill: H.B. 2685
Employees, Employers - As introduced, authorizes employers to require English be spoken in the workplace if necessary to conduct the employer's business.

3/3/2010
After some last minute negotiations and word-smithing, the House Employee Affairs Subcommittee unanimously approved legislation allowing Tennessee employers to institute English-only policies in the workplace.

H.B. 2685 will now go before the full House Commerce Committee of the Tennessee General Assembly.


Mission:
Encourage House Commerce Committee to pass H.B. 2685 that will allow
for English only policys in the work place.

Sponsor: Sen. Rep. Matthew Hill,

Task: Call and E-mail all members of the Senate and House

Message Example below (please craft your own)

Subject line:

To the Honorable

I'm writing / calling to ask Senator/Representative ____




Contact Information:

Tennessee State Website
http://tennessee.gov/

Tennessee Legislature:
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/

Governor Phil Bredesen
http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/governo ... D1dsn5ZGfr

House of Representatives (click House)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/

Tennessee Senators (click Senate)
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/senate/members/

Bill Look-up
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/

Session Information
Jan 8 - Late April, 2008

Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 1:50pm CST
English-only workplace bill advances
by Brandon Gee Staff Writer

After some last minute negotiations and word-smithing, the House Employee Affairs Subcommittee unanimously approved legislation allowing Tennessee employers to institute English-only policies in the workplace.

House Bill 2685, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, allows English-only policies if they are based on business necessity or safety. The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition withdrew its objections to the bill, which was amended to more specifically define what constitutes business necessity and safety.

“We are at a point that we do not oppose this language that (Hill) has,â€

"English Only" Bill Passes House Transportation Committee
posted March 30, 2010

A bill that would require all written examinations for all driver licenses be in English passed in the full House Transportation committee of the Tennessee House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Rep. Eric Watson, prime sponsor of the bill, said that HB 0262 "will put thousands of taxpayer dollars back into our budget, and most of all, make it safer for our drivers on our Tennessee roadways.

"As a legislator who represents the people of my district in Bradley, Polk, and Meigs Counties, I often discover the solution to a problem is not passing another law, but simply enforcing a law that already exists. Here is an example. In 1984 Tennessee adopted a law making English the official language of our state. The law read in part, 'All communications and publications …produced by governmental entities in Tennessee shall be in English.' In the minds of most people I think the meaning of that sentence is pretty clear.

"But what is clear to ordinary people too often seems beyond the grasp of government bureaucrats. For instance, Tennessee Department of Safety officials decided that the phrase “all communications and publicationsâ€

Actions Taken on HB0262 Action Date

Assigned to s/c Budget of FW&M 03/30/2010
Rec. for Pass. if Am. ref. to: Finance, Ways & Means Committee 03/30/2010
Sponsor change. 03/29/2010
Sponsor change. 03/25/2010
Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 03/30/2010 on 03/24/2010
Action Def. in Transportation Committee to 3/30/2010 on 03/23/2010
Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 03/23/2010 on 03/17/2010
Action Def. in Transportation Committee to 3/23/2010 on 03/16/2010
Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 03/16/2010 on 03/10/2010
Rec. for pass. if am. by s/c ref. to Transportation Committee 03/09/2010
Placed on s/c cal Public Safety of TR for 03/09/2010 on 03/03/2010
Action Def. in s/c Public Safety of TR to 3/9/2010 on 02/23/2010
Placed on s/c cal Public Safety of TR for 02/23/2010 on 02/17/2010
Action Def. in s/c Public Safety of TR to 2/23/2010 on 02/16/2010
Placed on s/c cal Public Safety of TR for 02/16/2010 on 02/10/2010
Assigned to s/c Public Safety of TR 02/20/2009
P2C, ref. to Transportation 02/11/2009
Intro., P1C. 02/09/2009
Filed for intro. 01/28/2009

http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInf ... ber=HB0262

HB0262 by Watson - TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE:

Recommended for passage w/amendments- refer to: Finance, Ways & Means Committee 3/30/2010
Voice Vote - Ayes Prevail Rep. West Requested to be recorded as NO

HB0262 by Watson - PUBLIC SAFETY OF TR:
Recommended for passage w/amendments- refer to: Transportation Committee 3/9/2010
Passed
Ayes.............................................. ..4
Noes.............................................. ..1
Present and not voting.......................1

Representatives voting aye were: Cobb T, Faulkner, Marsh, Shipley -- 4.
Representatives voting no were: West -- 1.
Representatives present and not voting were: Dean -- 1.

http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInf ... 262&ga=106

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Voter registration would require citizenship proof

Published: May 11, 2010
3 Comments

A proposal that would require prospective voters in Tennessee to provide proof of citizenship before registering to vote has passed the Senate.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Dewayne Bunch of Cleveland was approved 20-12 Monday evening. It is different than the companion bill that passed the House 92-1 last week.

That version would only require prospective voters to check a box to affirm they are citizens.

Bunch says the stricter legislation is needed to “protect the integrity of our elections.“

But opponents say the measure would actually discourage people from registering.


http://www2.tricities.com/tri/news/loca ... oof/45968/
_________________
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-198652.html

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

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Voter registration would require citizenship proof

Published: May 11, 2010
3 Comments

A proposal that would require prospective voters in Tennessee to provide proof of citizenship before registering to vote has passed the Senate.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Dewayne Bunch of Cleveland was approved 20-12 Monday evening. It is different than the companion bill that passed the House 92-1 last week.

That version would only require prospective voters to check a box to affirm they are citizens.

Bunch says the stricter legislation is needed to “protect the integrity of our elections.“

But opponents say the measure would actually discourage people from registering.


http://www2.tricities.com/tri/news/loca ... oof/45968/
_________________
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-198652.html

Way to go VOLUNTEERS!

But Opponents say the measure would actually discourage people from registering.

Duh... yes it would stop IA's from voting.

Senate bill to crack down on illegal immigrants

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee jailers would be required to share information about suspected illegal immigrants with immigration and customs enforcement officials under a proposal that has passed the Senate.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Delores Gresham of Somerville was approved 28-3 on Thursday.

It would require jailers to provide information if a person's citizenship status cannot be determined from documents in the individual's possession when arrested or if the "person is in this country illegally."

Supporters of the legislation say it's necessary because many jailers - particularly those in rural areas - don't always report such information.

The companion bill passed the House 67-24 earlier this month. Lawmakers must now work out differences in the legislation before it goes to the governor for his consideration.


Read SB1141/HB0670 at http://www.capitol.tn.gov.

http://www.wmctv.com/global/story.asp?s=12556699

Taken From:
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-200968.html

SB 1141 by *Gresham, Beavers, Tracy, Southerland, Watson, Crowe, Ramsey, Johnson, Ketron, Black. (*HB 0670 by *Dennis, Rich, Evans, Watson, Carr, Bell, Haynes, McCormick, Coley, Casada, Shipley, Fincher, Campfield, Hensley, Hill, Coleman, Hawk, Eldridge, Swafford, Lynn, Brooks H, Faulkner, Matlock, Halford, Williams.)

Criminal Procedure - As introduced, requires a keeper of a jail to notify the department of homeland security by facsimile transmission or other means of prisoners whose citizenship status in this country cannot be determined at time of arrest from documents in the prisoner's possession or if person is in this country illegally. - Amends TCA Title 40.
Fiscal Summary

Increase Local Expenditures - Not Significant
Bill Summary

ON MAY 18, 2009, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 670, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 requires a keeper of a jail to notify "the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Investigations (immigration office)" instead of "the department of homeland security" of prisoners whose citizenship status in this country cannot be determined by the keeper of a jail from documents in the prisoner's possession or from other available documents or if the person is in this country illegally. Under this amendment, the keeper of the jail would send the immigration office a copy of the person's booking records within three business days of the person's arrest.

ON MAY 13, 2010, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 670 FOR SENATE BILL 1141, ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #6, 10, 11, 14, 2,3,4,5,9, 12, 13, 15, AND RESET HOUSE BILL 670, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #6 incorporates the changes to this bill, as amended, as described in the summary for House Amendment #1 and exempts from the provisions of this bill as amended any county or municipality that has entered into or enters into a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. department of homeland security concerning enforcement of federal immigration laws.

AMENDMENT #10 exempts Hamilton County from the provisions of this bill.

AMENDMENT #11 exempts Knox County from the provisions of this bill.

AMENDMENT #14 exempts Marion County from the provisions of this bill.

AMENDMENT #2 exempts Shelby County from the provisions of this bill.

AMENDMENT #3 exempts Dickson, Giles, Hickman, Humphreys, Lawrence, and Lewis counties from this bill.

AMENDMENT #4 exempts Montgomery County from the provisions of this bill.

AMENDMENT #5 exempts Cheatham and Houston counties from the provisions of this bill.

AMENDMENT #9 exempts Carroll, Gibson, and Madison counties from the provisions of this bill.

AMENDMENT #12 exempts Robertson County from the provisions of this bill.

AMENDMENT #13 exempts Sumner County from the provisions of this bill.

AMENDMENT #15 exempts Roane County from the provisions of this bill.

ON MAY 24, 2010, THE SENATE FURTHER CONSIDERED HOUSE BILL 670, RECONSIDERED THEIR ACTION IN ADOPTING AMENDMENT #15, WITHDREW AMENDMENT #15, ADOPTED AMENDMENTS 23, 24, AS AMENDED BY AMENDMENTS 1 AND 3, 25, 27, 28 and 29, AND RESET HOUSE BILL 670.

AMENDMENT #23 exempts Blount and Sevier counties from the provisions of this bill.

AMENDMENT #24, as amended, removes all previously adopted amendments and rewrites the bill to require the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission to develop a standardized written procedure for verifying the citizenship status of persons who are arrested, booked, or confined in a county or municipal jail or detention facility and report to the appropriate federal officials those persons who are determined to be in the country illegally or for whom the citizenship status cannot be determined. This amendment requires the keeper of a jail to use such procedure to verify the citizenship status of each arrested, booked, or otherwise confined person and report those persons who are determined to be in the country illegally to the appropriate federal officials. This amendment would not apply to any county or municipality that has entered into and is operating under a memorandum of understating with the U.S. department of homeland security concerning enforcement of federal immigration laws or any county or municipality that is participating in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Criminal Alien Program (CAP) or the state Criminal Alien Assistance Program.

The bill would take effect on January 1, 2011.

AMENDMENT #25 clarifies that if the person being arrested, booked, or confined is determined to be in the country illegally, then the person's citizenship status would be reported to "the appropriate Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention and Removal Operations field office" instead of "the appropriate federal officials."

AMENDMENT #27 exempts Blount and Sevier counties from the provisions of this bill.

AMENDMENT #28 exempts Montgomery County from the provisions of this bill.

AMENDMENT #29 exempts Cheatham and Houston counties from the provisions of this bill.

ON MAY 27, 2010, THE SENATE FURTHER CONSIDERED HOUSE BILL 670, RECONSIDERED ITS ACTION IN ADOPTING AMENDMENT #27, WITHDREW AMENDMENT #27, ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #30 AND #32, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 670, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #30 removes the exemption for counties and municipalities that participate in the state Criminal Alien Assistance Program.

AMENDMENT #32 exempts Washington County from the provisions of this bill.

http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/billinf ... 141&ga=106

http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInf ... 670&ga=106


HB0670 by Dennis - FLOOR VOTE: Rule 39(3) AMEND# 29 BY Barnes 5/24/2010
Passed
Ayes.............................................. .20
Noes.............................................. ..8

Senators voting aye were: Barnes, Berke, Bunch, Burchett, Crowe, Faulk, Finney L, Ford, Harper, Haynes, Henry, Herron, Johnson, Kyle, Marrero, Overbey, Southerland, Tate, Woodson, Mr. Speaker Ramsey -- 20.
Senators voting no were: Beavers, Black, Gresham, Kelsey, Ketron, McNally, Tracy, Watson -- 8.
=======================================

HB0670 by Dennis - FLOOR VOTE: AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/18/2009
Passed
Ayes.............................................. .67
Noes.............................................. .24
Present and not voting.......................4

Representatives voting aye were: Bell, Brooks H, Brooks K, Campfield, Carr, Casada, Cobb C, Cobb J, Cobb T, Coleman, Coley, Curtiss, Dean, Dennis, Dunn, Eldridge, Evans, Faulkner, Ferguson, Fincher, Floyd, Ford, Fraley, Hackworth, Halford, Harmon, Harrison, Harwell, Hawk, Haynes, Hensley, Hill, Johnson C, Johnson P, Kelsey, Lollar, Lundberg, Lynn, Maggart, Matheny, Matlock, McCord, McCormick, McDaniel, McDonald, McManus, Miller, Montgomery, Mumpower, Niceley, Ramsey, Rich, Roach, Rowland, Sargent, Shepard, Shipley, Swafford, Tidwell, Tindell, Todd, Watson, Weaver, Windle, Winningham, Yokley, Mr. Speaker Williams -- 67.
Representatives voting no were: Armstrong, Barker, Bass, Bone, Borchert, Camper, Cooper, DeBerry L, Fitzhugh, Hardaway, Jones S, Kernell, Litz, Maddox, Naifeh, Odom, Pitts, Richardson, Shaw, Sontany, Stewart, Towns, Turner L, Turner M -- 24.
Representatives present and not voting were: DeBerry J, Jones U, Moore, Pruitt -- 4.

HB0670 by Dennis - FLOOR VOTE: PREVIOUS QUESTION AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 5/18/2009
Failed
Ayes.............................................. .52
Noes.............................................. .45

Representatives voting aye were: Bell, Brooks H, Brooks K, Campfield, Carr, Casada, Cobb J, Coley, Dean, Dennis, Dunn, Eldridge, Evans, Faulkner, Floyd, Ford, Halford, Harrison, Harwell, Hawk, Haynes, Hensley, Hill, Johnson C, Johnson P, Kelsey, Lollar, Lundberg, Lynn, Maggart, Matheny, Matlock, McCord, McCormick, McDaniel, McManus, Montgomery, Mumpower, Niceley, Ramsey, Rich, Roach, Rowland, Sargent, Shipley, Swafford, Tindell, Todd, Watson, Weaver, Windle, Mr. Speaker Williams -- 52.
Representatives voting no were: Armstrong, Barker, Bass, Bone, Borchert, Brown, Camper, Cobb C, Cobb T, Coleman, Cooper, Curtiss, DeBerry J, DeBerry L, Favors, Ferguson, Fincher, Fitzhugh, Fraley, Gilmore, Hackworth, Hardaway, Harmon, Jones S, Jones U, Litz, Maddox, McDonald, Miller, Moore, Naifeh, Odom, Pitts, Pruitt, Richardson, Shaw, Shepard, Sontany, Stewart, Tidwell, Towns, Turner L, Turner M, Winningham, Yokley -- 45.

HB0670 by Dennis - CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE:
Recommended for passage - refer to: House Regular Calendar (1) 5/14/2009
Voice Vote - Ayes Prevail

HB0670 by Dennis - STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE:
Recommended for passage w/amendments- refer to: Calendar & Rules Committee 5/5/2009
Voice Vote - Ayes Prevail

HB0670 by Dennis - STATE GOVERNMENT OF S&LG:
Recommended for passage - refer to: State & Local Government Committee 4/15/2009
Passed
Ayes.............................................. ..4
Noes.............................................. ..2

Representatives voting aye were: Carr, Cobb T, Haynes, McCormick -- 4.
Representatives voting no were: Litz, Pruitt -- 2.

http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInf ... 670&ga=106