Working Together for West Tennessee
Friday, May 06, 2005
During the 103rd General Assembly, I am serving on the Commerce, Labor and Agriculture Committee, the Transportation Committee, and the Judiciary Committee as Vice Chairman. These are important assignments for the counties of Senate District 32 - Dyer, Lauderdale, Tipton and Shelby County. The prospects of I-69, new port facilities along the Mississippi, the ability to meet the need for new jobs and pursue rural economic initiatives are enhanced by my membership on these Committees. I also serve on Veterans’ Affairs, Corrections Oversight and the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations which will recommend how to comply with the Supreme Court’s recent ruling governing teacher pay equity.
In addition to spending reform and restructuring state government, my agenda for our District during the next two years is “Health, Wealth and Homesteads” – healthcare reform, economic development, and a homestead exemption for senior citizens. In order to sustain affordable access to health care, I am the prime sponsor of thirteen different health-related bills including one calling for medical malpractice reform which would impose caps on damages for non-economic losses and attorneys’ fees. I have also introduced the TennCare reforms including the Prescription Drug Cost Containment Act designed to save the state $150 million in its first year.
Economic development means recruiting new businesses AND retaining existing business. I am working to modernize incentive programs to reflect the realities of 21st Century technology without “giving away the store.” Our district includes some of the most productive agricultural land in Tennessee, and I am working to streamline our corporate codes to attract new-age agribusiness like alternative fuels facilities and the transportation networks to support them. Our workers’ compensation statutes must also be modernized to reduce the heavy burdens on West Tennessee business. I conducted Commerce Committee hearings in March which proved we are losing employers to other states because Tennessee’s workers’ compensation laws are not competitive.
A homestead exemption for citizens over 65 years of age is long overdue. Tennessee currently has a Constitutional prohibition against giving anyone favored status in taxation, but it is time for an amendment which recognizes that those on fixed incomes should not have to bear the burden of appreciation in property values beyond age 65. My legislation would put this on the ballot for a referendum vote by all Tennesseans.
Summary of Legislation Introduced by Senator Norris and Enacted into Law by the 103rd General Assembly
Public Acts
Chapter No. 253 on 06/13/03
House Bill: 292
Senate Bill: 53
Amends TCA Title 45, Chapter 1, Part 1, requiring commissioners of financial institutions to report to governor annually within 60 days after the end of each calendar year; present law requires such reporting within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year.
Chapter No. 796 on 06/08/04
House Bill: 591
Senate Bill: 176
Amends TCA Section 55-8-187, prohibiting the exposure of obscene or patently offensive movies or videotapes on or within a motor vehicle if it is visible to other drivers. According to present law, the definitions of “obscene” and “patently offensive” encompass each and any movies, bumper stickers, window signs or other markings on or in a motor vehicle must be found both “obscene” and “patently offensive”. The violation is punishable by a fine ranging from $2.00 to $50.00 for this offense.
Chapter No. 221 on 06/10/03
House Bill: 590
Senate Bill: 396
Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 30, regarding Local Education Agencies. Authorizes LEA to bring action for restitution against parent or guardian or other legal custodian ho enroll out-of-district or out-of-state student in school system and fraudulently misrepresents address for domicile of student.
Chapter No. 31 on 4/23/03
House Bill: 933
Senate Bill: 495
Amends TCA Title 39; Title 45; Title 47; Title 56 and 62. Prohibiting unauthorized use of financial institutions logo or name; prevents false representation of financial institutions endorsement of products and services in advertising or solicitation; makes such acts Class B misdemeanor and violation of Unfair Competition Act; makes such practice violations under home improvement contractor law.
Chapter No. 94 on 05/15/03
House Bill: 722
Senate Bill: 603
Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 135, regarding gas, petroleum products and volatile oils. Revises prohibition on dealers of liquefied petroleum gas dismantling, disconnecting, evacuating, servicing, tampering with, or defacing gas installation container belonging to another dealer.
Chapter No. 196 on 06/06/03
House Bill: 647
Senate Bill: 733
Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 84. Authorizes two or more municipal government to create jointly corridor of central business improvement districts.
Chapter No. 261 on 06/13/03
House Bill: 881
Senate Bill: 734
Amends TCA Section 6-3-101 and Section 6-3-102, permitting mayor-alderman municipalities to provide by ordinance numeric designations for alderman positions.
Chapter No. 390 on 06/26/03
House Bill: 1386
Senate Bill: 998
Requires TennCare Bureau to submit a report to the General Assembly, outlining the viability if the TennCare program. This report would include: cost savings in the pharmacy program, resolutions to legal actions against the program, flexibility for increased federal funding and changes in the TennCare program, and recommendations for state law provisions that either reform or dissolve managed care organizations participating in TennCare. Such recommendations would be made in consultation with the Department of Commerce and Insurance. If the Bureau decides upon the viability of the program, this amendment would also require the Bureau to submit a report outlining an alternative program.
Chapter No. 349 on 06/19/03
House Bill: 1606
Senate Bill: 1008
Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, regarding handgun permits. Specifies that persons who renew a permit within six months of permit’s expiration are not required to take additional handgun safety course; person who does not renew in such time period is to be considered new applicant and must complete safety course.
Chapter No. 828 on 06/16/04
House Bill: 821
Senate Bill: 1012
Amends TCA Section 26-2-216, preventing persons who move to pay judgment in installments from obtaining automatic stay of execution of garnishments.
Chapter No. 534 on 04/22/04
House Bill: 1675
Senate Bill: 1161
Amends TCA Title 43, “Tennessee Processing Cooperative Law”, providing the establishment of a “processing cooperative association” for persons in the agriculture industry. The cooperative could be used to market, process, or otherwise change the form or marketability of crops, livestock, and other agricultural products for its members/owners. Specific provisions are detailed as well as other powers of the established cooperative association.
Chapter No. 275 on 06/13/03
House Bill: 1624
Senate Bill: 1658
Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17 regarding handgun permits. Requires sheriff of police of city of residence of person purchasing a firearm to execute within 15 days of request all documents submitted by purchaser if purchaser is not prohibited from purchasing a firearm.
Chapter No. 675 on 05/21/04
House Bill: 1881
Senate Bill: 1884
Amends TCA Title 56, Chapter 7, creating the Tennessee health insurance risk pool, which would offer coverage consistent with major medical expense coverage to each eligible person whom is not eligible for Medicare. Powers granted to the pool, in addition to the general powers granted to insurance companies under state law, are outlined. Guidelines for whom the Board of Directors may consist of, as well as the framework of plan procedures.
Chapter No. 632 on 05/20/04
House Bill: 3061
Senate Bill: 2446
Amends TCA Section 13-7-402, removes language of section (c), relating to the transfer of development rights in historic zones.
Chapter No. 853 on 06/16/04
House Bill: 2354
Senate Bill: 2448
Amends TCA title 20, Chapter 6, Part 3, relating to civil procedure. Deems counter-claimant for contractual attorney fees to be prevailing party if plaintiff voluntarily dismisses an action while such counterclaim is pending and does not timely recommence such action.
Chapter No. 896 on 06/16/04
House Bill: 3146
Senate Bill: 2711
Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 13, Part 1, requiring registers of deed to accept instruments submitted with legal fees which exceed the required amount; allows a register of deeds to retain $2.00 per instrument before refunding the remaining excess legal fees submitted.
Chapter No. 497 on 04/16/04
House Bill: 3147
Senate Bill: 2712
Amends TCA Title 66, Chapter 24, and Part1, deleting the word “and” and adding the subsections, which state: (27) Certified copies of death certificates; (28) Affidavits of scrivener’s error or any other affidavits in furtherance of identification and title of land. Relating to registers of deeds.
Chapter No. 795 on 06/08/04
House Bill: 3187
Senate Bill: 3170
Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 9, Part 4, Creating a new specialty earmarked license plate for Regional Medical Center in Memphis (The MED); allocates 50 percent of funds produced from sale thereof, minus expenses, to such entity.
Chapter No. 505 on 04/16/04
House Bill: 3422
Senate Bill: 3354
Amends TCA Section 48-58-109, revising manner in which appointed directors of nonprofit corporations may be removed.
Private Acts
Chapter No. 80 on 03/15/04
House Bill: 2144
Senate Bill: 2575
Amends Chapter 322 of the Acts of 1903, increasing the term limits for mayor in to four years from a two-year term in the town of Covington. Also clarifying the term of two years for the six Alderman, as well as the City Marshal, City Recorder, Treasurer and Assistant Marshall.
Chapter No. 135 on 06/18/04
House Bill: 3613
Senate Bill: 3518
Amends Chapter 35 of the Private Acts of 1913; as amended. Subject to local approval, changed the town election from April to November and removes references to City Marshal. Regarding the town of Garland.
104th General Assembly
103rd General Assembly
102nd General Assembly
