Summary of Legislation Introduced by Senator Norris and Enacted into Law by the 102nd General Assembly

Public Acts

Chapter No. 265
House Bill: 252
Senate Bill: 250 
Chapter No. 252 amends TCA Title 13, Chapter 7, Part 1 and Title 13, Chapter 7, Part 2, relative to zoning and public planning. This act allows by amending Section 13-7-101(a)(2), the transfer of development rights within a town, city, a county with a metropolitan form of government, the state of Tennessee, or a not-for-profit conservation or preservation organization, without allocating or designating the transferred development right to any receiving property under its ownership or control. The body will receive all developmental rights without withstanding any local zoning regulations. Allowing a property owner to donate through a gift or testamentary disposition all or part of the development rights. Amends TCA Section 13-7-101(a)(2).
 
Chapter No. 248 on 05/22/01
House Bill: 774
Senate Bill: 852 
Senate Bill 852 has been titled as Public Chapter 248. This legislation requires the Department of transportation to post in its Internet web site a copy of the most current statewide transportation plan required pursuant to the TCA, Section 4-3-2303(13). The Department of Transportation must also post any information identifying and explaining the types of planning information available form the department and the procedures for obtaining each type of such information form the department.
 
Chapter No. 850
House Bill: 1131
Senate Bill: 887 
Chapter No. 850 amends TCA Title 49, Title 8, Chapter 35, and Sections 12-4-101and 12-4-102 and is known as the “Tennessee Public Charter School Act of 2002”. The purpose of this act is to improve learning for all students and close the achievement gap between high and low income students; Provide options for parents to meet educational needs of students in low performing school; encourage the use of different an innovative teaching methods, and provide greater decision making authority to schools and teachers in exchange for greater responsibility for student performance; measure performance of pupils and faculty, and ensure that children have the opportunity to reach proficiency on state academic assessments; create new professional opportunities for teachers; afford parents substantial meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children. This act provides options to the state board of education along with local school systems and gives flexibility in order to achieve goals. The criteria of a public charter school are outlined along with the criteria to apply to become a new public charter school.

Chapter No. 108 on 7/1/01
House Bill: 1369
Senate Bill: 1646 
This chapter allows the Department of Corrections to deduct from inmate trust accounts funds necessary to pay unpaid court costs owed by indigent inmates in felony cases. This allows the state to be reimbursed for court costs it has paid on behalf of the inmate. The cost recovery to the state is estimated to exceed $100,000. 

Chapter No. 53 04/04/01
House Bill: 1370
Senate Bill: 1647 
Senate Bill 1647 has been titled as Public Chapter 53. This change requires the Department of Corrections, rather than the Board of Probation and Parole, to notify the victim witness coordinator of an inmate’s parole eligibility date. It also requires the Board of Probation and Parole, rather the Department of Correction, to notify appropriate officials regarding the release eligibility date for felons with two-year sentences or less. 

Chapter No. 232 on 05/15/04
House Bill: 1374
Senate Bill: 1651
Chapter No. 232 amends TCA Section 11-13-104 by adding the Duck River, beginning at the Iron Bridge Road at river mile 136.4 extending continuously to a point upstream to the boundary of Marshall County at river mile 173.7, listed in alphabetical order under the classification of “Class II Pastoral River Areas”. Adding the Duck River and the private landowners in the area amends TCA Section 11-13-108.

Chapter No. 326 on 05/30/02
House Bill: 1738
Senate Bill: 1850 
This legislation requires the legislative body of Shelby County to adopt an enforceable financial policy limiting the amount and type of debt issued by or on behalf of the county. This policy is to be adopted within one year of the effective date of this act, which is May 30, 2003.
 
Chapter No. 449 on 07/18/01
House Bill: 1916
Senate Bill: 1889 
Chapter No. 449 amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 212, part 2 in order to encourage the redevelopment of brownfield properties. TCA Section 68-212-101 is amended by defining a “Brownfield Project” as the screening, investigation, monitoring, control and/or remediation of any abandoned, idled, underutilized, or other property whose re-use, growth, enhancement, or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived adverse environmental conditions. Brownfield projects may address sites contaminated by hazardous substances, solid waste, or any other pollutant. Requiring a summary of information regarding the brownfield project to be presented to the commissioner by the voluntary oversight and cleanup assistance program. Amends TCA Section 68-212-224(a). The responsibilities of the commissioners are also outlined.  

Chapter No. 604 on 04/16/02
House Bill: 2351
Senate Bill: 2135 
Chapter No. 604 amends TCA Title 43, Chapter 26, Part 1, relative to the right to farm. Defining the criteria that must be met in order to define a farm operation as a nuisance amends section 43-26-103. New farming operations, which is defined as a farm that is materially different in character and nature from the previous farming operations, are excluded from this legislation unless the person claiming a public or private nuisance establishes evidence which is also outlined.
  
Chapter No. 841 on 07/03/02
House Bill: 2549
Senate Bill: 2599
Chapter No. 841 amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, relative to instruction and recitation of the pledge of allegiance in public schools. New language exists in Section 49-6-1001 in addition to subsection (a) that requires children to learn the pledge of allegiance and demonstrate such knowledge. Students are excluded whose parent or legal guardian objects on religious, philosophical or other grounds. The board of education is responsible for determining the time of day for the recitation and the display of the flag of the United States of America. Organizations and individuals are encouraged to donate flags to enable each classroom to have one.
 
Chapter No. 779 on 05/22/02
House Bill: 3138
Senate Bill: 3074
Chapter No. 779 amends 13 and 14 of Title 11, relative to state natural areas and scenic rivers. This legislation designs a registry for owners of property along designated scenic rivers. These owners will be given the option to include their land in the Scenic River boundaries as described in Section 11-13-104. Such registration is not binding and does not involve any transferring of property rights. Upon the neglect to abide by the rules and regulation designated by the Commissioner the owner shall be removed from the registry.  
Senate Resolution 6  

Senate Resolution 6 is a resolution to approve amendments and revision to the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, promulgated by the Supreme Court of Tennessee pursuant to the provision of the Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 16-3-402, et seq. The first amendment clarifies that a pretrial ruling eliminates the need to renew an objection or offer of proof during trail. The second amendment allows business records to be introduced at trail without calling a witness. All that is necessary is an affidavit from the custodian of the records.

104th General Assembly
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102nd General Assembly