February 7, 2003

Committees Get Organized as 103rd General Assembly Begins 

NASHVILLE--This week on Nashville's Capitol Hill, the 103rd General Assembly began its transition from organizational mode to operational mode as standing committee chairmen convened their committees and, along with their committee officers, organized their committees and declared them ready to conduct business. 

                Speaker John S. Wilder announced additional committee appointments and assignments on Monday (Feb. 3, 2003), the Second Regular Legislative Day. Among them was an appointment of Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) to the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR).  Earlier, on the first day of organizational session (Jan.14, 2003), the Senate Republican Caucus had nominated Senator Beavers to serve as a Senate representative on TACIR. 

                Annual legislative sessions usually last until late April or early May but had been running longer the last four years.  Members of the General Assembly sincerely hope that this year sees the return of a more typical legislative season. 

Normally, Tuesdays are reserved strictly for committee meetings.  Likewise, committees meet on Wednesday mornings and in the early afternoon after which an afternoon/early evening session follows.  A regular session then follows on Thursday mornings, wrapping up most of the week's meetings. 

This week saw the standing committee chairmen calling their committees to order and, along with the two other committee officers -- the Vice Chairman and the Secretary, organizing themselves and declaring their committees ready to conduct business. 

Two new Chairmen convened their first committee meetings this week.  Chairman Micheal R. "Mike" Williams (R-Maynardville) opened up his committee, the Senate Transportation Committee, with Senator Steve Southerland (R-Hamblen County) serving as Secretary. 

Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Cleveland) opened up his committee, the Senate Environment, Conservation and Tourism Committee, with Senator Beavers serving as Secretary.  Chairman Miller has scheduled a set of hearings to begin Wednesday, Feb. 12, over a proposed uranium enrichment plant in Hartsville. 

Senators Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) and Curtis Person (R-Memphis), both veteran chairmen, opened up their committees and announced they are ready to hear bills. 

Meanwhile, bills are being crafted, drafted and refined as members get them in a suitable form so that they can be properly introduced and undergo first and second readings prior to being assigned to an appropriate committee for consideration.  Also, since Tennessee has a bicameral legislature as do 48 other states, Senate members must seek out a House sponsor to carry a companion bill through the House. 

Bills, Bills, Bills

All things considered:  Bills are being filed for the new session.  As of 1:50 p.m. (CST) Thursday, February 6, the Senate has 314 Senate bills filed, while the House has 512 bills filed.  Senate Joint Resolutions now number 60; House Joint Resolutions 43; Senate Resolutions 2; and House Resolutions 22.  The Senate and House have 90 regular session days allowed every two years under Article II, Section 23 of the Constitution for a regular session. The Senate and the House recessed and plan to convene in regular session on Monday, Feb. 10, at 5 p.m.

* * *

Bill Filing Deadlines Loom:  Members may file an unlimited number of bills up to a cut-off date on Feb. 13, 2003.  After that cut-off point, members can only file nine general bills.  The limit does not affect local bills and most resolutions. The nine-bill limit cut-off date is the 10th legislative day.  The projected cut-off date is Feb. 24, 2003. 

SENATE 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY SELECT, OVERSIGHT AND JOINT COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

(As of Thursday)

Senator Roscoe Dixon                                                                            

Senator Douglas Henry                                                          

Senator Mark Norris                                                                                              

Senator Randy McNally

Senator Ron Ramsey

Senator Jim Kyle

Senator Ben Atchley                                              

Senator Tim Burchett

Senator Bill Clabough

Senator Ward Crutchfield

Senator Roscoe Dixon

Senator Joe Haynes

Senator Rosalind Kurita

Senator Bill Ketron

Senator Ward Crutchfied                                       

Senator Mark Norris                                                                                              

Senator Mae Beavers

Senator Jo Ann Graves

Senator Roscoe Dixon                                                            

Senator Thelma Harper

Senator John Ford

Senator Ben Atchley              

Senator Rusty Crowe                                                                            

Senator Ward Crutchfield

Senator Jo Ann Graves                                                          

Senator Joe Haynes

Senator Randy McNally

Senator David Fowler

Senator Roy Herron

Senator Don McLeary                                                             

Senator Ward Crutchfield                      

Senator Roscoe Dixon

Senator Jo Ann Graves

Senator Thelma Harper

Senator Douglas Henry

Senator Doug Jackson

Senator Curtis Person

Senator Larry Trail

Senator Mae Beavers

Senator David Fowler

Senator Thelma Harper

Senator Jim Kyle

Senator Mark Norris

Senator Doug Jackson

SELECT COMMITTEE ON PENSIONS & INSURANCE

Senator Ward Crutchfield

Senator Bill Clabough                                                                            

Senator John Ford

Senator Jim Kyle

Senator Jerry Cooper

SELECT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON TENNCARE

Senator Ben Atchley                                                                              

Senator John Ford

Senator Roy Herron

Senator Doug Jackson

Senator Randy McNally

Senator David Fowler

Senator Roscoe Dixon

Select Appointments

Mr. Speaker Wilder

Senator Ben Atchley

Senator Ward Crutchfield

Rules

Senator Jim Kyle, Chairman

Senator Ben Atchley

Senator Ward Crutchfield

Senator Rosalind Kurita

Senator Randy McNally