Tennessee Disability and Aging Act signed into law

On Thursday, Gov. Bill Lee signed the Tennessee Disability and Aging Act, legislation that merges Tennessee's Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) and Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD), creating a new Department of Disability and Aging (DDA). The bill received unanimous, bipartisan legislative support and was backed by numerous stakeholders.

Adults 65 years and older are the fastest-growing demographic in Tennessee. With a rapidly aging population, the state must ensure it has the infrastructure in place to serve the needs of older adults. TCAD is Tennessee's federally designated "state unit on aging," currently overseeing Older Americans Act programs and providing leadership relative to aging issues throughout state government. Tennessee is one of two states that did not previously house its "state unit on aging" within a cabinet-level agency.

Additionally, there are many similarities in the supports and services DIDD and TCAD provide to enhance the quality of life and independence of the populations they serve. Unifying these two agencies will provide for better coordination on areas of shared priorities.

Legislation penalizes false reports of active shooter

The Senate passed legislation to increase protections against the intentional false reporting of emergencies in Tennessee, often referred to as "swatting."

Senate Bill 2222 would make it a Class C felony to knowingly make a false report of an active shooter and hostage situation in order to draw a large law enforcement response to a specific location.

It is already illegal under state law to intentionally make a false report regarding a past, present or future bombing or fire.

The legislation now moves to the Lee's desk for his signature.

Juvenile offenders — This past week the Senate passed legislation requiring a child admitted to a juvenile detention facility be allowed at least one phone call per day before being adjudicated. Senate Bill 2507 would also require an alleged juvenile offender to be eligible to receive 30-minute visits per day with a parent or guardian. By requiring parental access to juvenile offenders, the bill will help affected families and will create consistency in juvenile detention center rules.

Protecting Tennessee businesses — Senate Bill 2898 would protect the investments of Tennessee businesses operating under the permission of a local government from arbitrarily losing their license to operate. Members of the entertainment transportation industry must comply with expensive, long-term regulations which cost the companies millions of dollars such as enclosing the vehicles, insurance requirements, etc. Senate Bill 2898 would protect these investments and ensure a government that has enacted and enforced these expensive regulations cannot then take away the license from companies that remain in compliance.

Parentage fraud restitution — Senate Bill 2551 will create a pathway for restitution for victims of parentage fraud. In the event a person is convicted of falsely leading a person into believing they are the biological parent of a child, then the judge or jury must ascertain the value of any child support paid by the victim. The court will order the defendant to pay the victim restitution. The bill passed the Senate floor this week and awaits the governor's signature.

Failure to appear in court — Senate Bill 2304 will put individuals who fail to appear in court for a bench warrant on a federal fugitive database. The bill would require individuals charged with a felony or a Class A or B misdemeanor that is violent or sexual in nature to be put on the database within 10 business days after failing to appear in court.