Allan F. Ramsaur, TBA Executive Director
(800) 899-6993 or (615) 277-3200
aramsaur@tnbar.org
May 15, 2003
New judicial positions may be coming to Davidson County
Legislation that will create a new chancellor position and two new criminal court judge positions in the 20th judicial district (Davidson County) won passage in the House today and is on its way to the governor.
The bill (SB0064, HB0407) carries with it an amendment that makes the creation of the positions subject to available funding, which is estimated at $736,600. If funded, the positions would be filled by gubernatorial appointments, who would hold the posts until the general elections in August 2004. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Rob Briley, D-Nashville, and Sen. Joe Haynes, D-Nashville.
Tax exemption likely to end, but reimbursement may follow
Also winning House approval today was the omnibus bill that provides for changes in the structure of state government programs in order to fund the state budget. The Senate deferred action on the bill until next week.
Among the many changes in the bill is a provision that would eliminate the exemption state employees would have enjoyed from Tennessee’s $400 a year professional privilege tax. Federal employees have also been exempted from paying the fee, following a Tennessee Attorney General opinion that said the exemption also had to be applied to federal employees to pass constitutional muster.
While no money has yet been budgeted to reimburse state employees for the $400 tax, that appears to be the intention. Under the bill, federal employees who had been exempted will now have to pay, but will have additional time to send in their checks. The federal employees will have until June 30, while others will have to pay on June 1.
Progress on Tennessee Judicial Council bill
Legislation that would extend the life of the Tennessee Judicial Council stumbled in the House Government Affairs Committee last week, but is still alive. House and Senate leaders indicated this week that they are optimistic that the concerns expressed by some members on the manner that the Council reviews legislation can be resolved.
The TBA supports the existence of the Judicial Council because of its role in assessing legislation for impact on the judicial branch.
TBA-backed bills given public chapter numbers
Three TBA-backed bills were signed into law by the governor this week and assigned public chapter numbers. The TRPC clean-up bill was enacted as Public Chapter 112, the UETA clean-up bill was enacted as Public Chapter 107 and the electronic treatment of notary seals bill was enacted as Public Chapter 106.
Earlier, the bill to clean up sections of the process reform bill passed by the legislature last session was enacted as Public Chapter 53 and the bill that allows insurers to make preferences or distinctions in insurance coverage, rates, premiums, benefits or conditions based on membership in a professional association was enacted as Public Chapter 54.
TBA bill tracking service
The TBA bill tracking service lets you read abstracts of bills, check their status in both houses, find out who is sponsoring them and link to full versions of the legislation.
TBA Big List
Monitor close to 300 bills and resolutions of interest to the Tennessee legal community.
TBA Watch List
Monitor legislation in which the TBA has an interest of record — bills the TBA initiated, bills on which the TBA has taken a position or bills on which the TBA has policy.
Questions, comments? Contact TBA Legislative Counsel Steve Cobb at SAC@wallerlaw.com or TBA Executive Director Allan F. Ramsaur at aramsaur@tnbar.org
