BY REP. JOHN HOLSCLAW
This week, House Republicans passed House Bill 940 in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
This initiative — which is part of the governor’s legislative agenda this year — establishes a nine-member independent charter commission to ensure that all Tennessee charter schools can best serve the state’s student population that relies on these institutions to achieve their academic goals and dreams. Additionally, the measure clarifies that a majority of commission members must reside in counties where at least one public charter school is operating.
Students who rely on charter schools for their education must have access to the best facilities possible. By creating this commission, House Republicans are focused on making sure every Tennessee student has an opportunity to attend a great school.
BILL PROMOTING CIVICS
EDUCATION PASSES HOUSE
Republican lawmakers passed House Bill 944 recognizing Tennessee’s public schools and school districts that implement high-quality civic education because it is essential to preserving our constitutional democracy.
In partnership with the Secretary of State’s office, this initiative seeks to promote efforts to increase access to quality civics education, while also recognizing our schools for their excellence in civics education.
Standards established by this legislation include instructional criteria, professional development for teachers, project-based assessment implementation, real-world learning activities, and high-performance on Tennessee’s mandated exam for our high school seniors.
This legislation will have an incredible impact on our current and future leaders, and House Republicans will continue to support legislation that strengthens the academic foundations of our students.
NEW AD HOC TASK
FORCE ON EDUCATION
House lawmakers supported a Joint Resolution that creates a new Ad Hoc Task Force on Education.
This House-led initiative — in partnership with the Governor and the Senate Speaker — will focus on untying the hands of our educators, students, and schools in efforts to solidify Tennessee’s future.
Under House Joint Resolution 394, the task force will study and evaluate the overall effectiveness and necessity of state testing practices, curriculum, and other mandated academic policies and procedures that are currently imposed upon our school boards, school directors, principals, teachers, students, and their parents. This will improve overall education outcomes and enhance Tennessee’s future economic standing.
The Ad Hoc Task Force on Education will include members of the Governor’s Cabinet as appointed by the governor, as well as members of both the House and Senate as appointed by the Speakers. Tennessee educators, school administrators, and parents will also be chosen to participate by the Governor, the Lt. Governor, and the House Speaker as they see fit.
Tennessee has made remarkable progress improving education over the past decade. Because of strategic and record-breaking Republican-led investments, our students are now the fastest improving in the entire nation across math, reading, and science. Last year, we also achieved the best high school graduation rates ever — 89.1 percent.
The creation of this important task force is another example of the House’s commitment to education and strong desire to lead. It is imperative that we build upon our recent successes in the areas of career readiness and aptitude for our K-12 students, and this task force gives us that opportunity.
PROTECTING TENNESSEE’S
ELECTIONS FROM FRAUD
Legislation to protect Tennessee’s elections from fraud and abuse passed the House of Representatives with strong support this week.
House Bill 1079 requires a person or organization that plans to conduct a registration drive attempting to collect 100 or more voter registration forms and pays individuals to collect the voter registration forms to register with the Coordinator of Elections and receive training prior to conducting drives.
This measure makes intentional violations a Class A misdemeanor for each offense on an individual or an organization that fails to adhere to new requirements under the measure. It also allows the State Election Commission to assess civil penalties to persons/organizations submitting a high number of deficient forms.
As amended, House Bill 1079 only applies to a person or organization that pays individuals to collect voter registration forms. The bill would not apply to individuals or organizations that collect forms using unpaid volunteers, such as the Boy Scouts, churches, or college student government associations.
It is important for every Tennessean to vote, but we must ensure voter registration is done in a responsible and lawful manner. This bill will ensure applications are timely filed and our election process is not compromised.
MEASURE DESIGNED TO CRACK
DOWN ON DISTRACTED DRIVING PASSES
A measure sponsored by State Representative John Holsclaw (R-Elizabethton) designed to crack down on distracted driving has passed in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
House Bill 164 bans drivers from physically holding or supporting a cell phone while driving, which would make hands-free calls via Bluetooth, speakerphone or other means the only legal way to talk on the phone and drive.
If the bill becomes law, a violation would be a Class C misdemeanor that would carry a fine of up to $50. If a person commits three offenses, or if the violation results in an accident, the fine would increase to $100. Violations occurring in work zones or marked school zones would be $200.
According to recent reports, Tennessee is the number one state for cellphone distracted driving deaths nationwide. Furthermore, a study conducted by ValuePenguin shows, “from 2015-2017, more than 1,400 fatalities were attributed to car crashes involving drivers that were distracted by their cellphones.”
The measure now awaits passage in the Senate.
CREATING BALANCE WITHIN
COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT BOARDS
This week, House Republicans strengthened House Bill 658 by adopting a recent Conference Committee amendment that gives community oversight boards subpoena power through their local legislative body.
As amended, the local legislative body must vote in support of a community oversight board’s subpoena request. Additionally, the subpoena may not be issued in the form of a blanket authorization; it must specify each document to be produced or witness to testify and cannot be issued for confidential documents.
House Bill 658 balances both the interests of our citizens to voice their opinion while also protecting the fundamental rights of officers and their families from malicious or politically focused persecution.
Community oversight boards have existed since the 1950s, and there are presently no guidelines outlined in Tennessee state law that defines how they are created, who can serve on them, and what their specific function is.
This important initiative provides much needed structure to all current and future community oversight boards in Tennessee, which is critical to their overall success, as well as overall safety in Tennessee.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
Earlier this week, Republican lawmakers advanced House Bill 839 to ensure accountability and also support rehabilitation efforts for those with a strong desire to work towards prosperity.
This measure creates a statewide payment plan for individuals who submit proof of their inability to pay fines, taxes, or court costs on citations and have had their licenses suspended. This will allow them to obtain restricted drivers licenses so they can work, pursue their education, or attend church.
Additionally, Republican leaders passed House Bill 950, which funds the state’s electronic monitoring indigency fund, which was exhausted last year. The measure adds $1.5 million in new funding and creates a state and county matching grant program to distribute funds.
These and other initiatives throughout the 111th General Assembly are a small part of a much larger criminal justice reform plan that will create a system of justice tempered with mercy.
GOVERNOR SIGNS LEGISLATION
TOSSING GYM TAX
This week, the Governor signed legislation that tosses the amusement tax on small gyms.
House Bill 1138 eliminates the amusement tax on small gyms, fitness studios, and similar entities across Tennessee. It levels the playing field for these facilities so they can compete against their larger counterparts, which obtained an exemption from this burdensome regulation in 1986.
Currently, Tennessee ranks in the bottom five states for obesity and fitness. The overall goal of this initiative is to promote a healthier workforce, reduce obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and improve the overall quality of life for the citizens of this state.
Republican lawmakers remain committed to eliminating burdensome regulations on Tennessee’s small businesses, as well as improving the health and well-being for all of our citizens.
(John Holsclaw serves as Chairman of the House Employee Affairs Subcommittee. He is also a member of the House Consumer and Human Resource Committee, Commerce Committee and Banking and Investment Subcommittee. Holsclaw lives in Elizabethton and represents House District 4, which includes Unicoi and part of Carter counties. He can be reached by email at Rep.John.Holsclaw@capitol.tn.gov or by calling (615) 741-7450.)