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April 26, 2007
This week, a number of key proposals moved through the Senate that will give citizens and law enforcement important tools to protect themselves and their families from all types of criminals.
On Monday night, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) presented SB 1196 on the Senate floor. The bill requires all individuals arrested for certain violent felonies to provide a DNA sample to the TBI. Currently, DNA samples must be submitted only after a person has been convicted and sentenced for certain violent felonies.
Johnia Berry was an ETSU graduate student who moved to Knoxville to enroll at UT to work on a Master’s Degree. On December 6, 2004, someone entered her apartment and brutally murdered her. The killer has not been found despite the fact that DNA evidence was taken at the scene.
Lt. Gov. Ramsey stated that he felt that Tennessee needed a more comprehensive DNA database. DNA samples are the fingerprints of the 21st century and are an essential crime fighting tool. The bill will increase the chances of catching violent criminals and exonerate those who may have been wrongly charged.
Johnia’s parents and brother were on hand to witness the landmark vote. The companion bill is scheduled to be heard in the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee next week.
The Senate unanimously passed SB 161 by Sen. Raymond Finney (R-Maryville) on Wednesday. Known as “The Credit Security Act of 2007”, the bill will protect Tennesseans, especially seniors, from the growing problem of identity theft.
“Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the country,” said Rebecca Kelly, AARP Tennessee State Director. “This new law will allow consumers to put a freeze on their credit reports so this new breed of thieves will not be able to get credit cards, buy cars or make other major expenditures using the identities of hard working Tennesseans.”
The bill has three main components: a strong, flexible, affordable security freeze; protection of Social Security Numbers; and strengthening of the Consumer Protection Act to combat financial fraud.
“The legislation will enact one of the strongest, most effective security freezes in the nation,” said Sen. Finney. “It will not prevent every incident of identity theft, but it will provide an important layer of protection for Tennesseans. Consumers will still need to educate and protect themselves.”
The House of Representatives passed the bill on Thursday, April 19th. Once the Governor signs the bill, it will become law.
SB 187 by Sen. Paul Stanley (R-Germantown) cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Known as the “Castle Doctrine”, the bill would allow a person to use deadly force on someone who enters their residence or vehicle unlawfully. A person would be permitted to use force if:
- There is a reasonable belief that there is imminent danger of death of serious bodily injury.
- The danger creating the belief of imminent death or serious bodily injury is real or honestly believed to be real at the time.
- The belief of danger is founded upon reasonable grounds.
The full Senate will act on the measure next week.
In November of last year, 84 percent of Tennesseans voted to amend the state constitution to allow local governments to freeze property taxes for homeowners 65 and up. Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville), the prime sponsor of the proposal, has been working all session on language to enable the measure.
This week, the Senate State and Local Government Committee approved SB 2 which will allow local governments to use the median household income of people ages 65-74 in each county as the maximum income level for seniors to qualify.
The next step for the bill is the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee.
The Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee had a unique opportunity this week to truly fund education first. Sen. Paul Stanley (R-Germantown) presented SB 180 to the committee. The bill would require that the General Assembly fund the K-12 Education Budget before taking up any other appropriations.
Sen. Stanley stated that this would give the legislature the opportunity to sincerely put “schools first”. Interestingly, Democrats on the committee balked at an amendment, and caused the bill to stall in the committee. The bill was delayed until May 1st .
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