Dear Friends, Before I give you the wrap this week I have something very important to share with you regarding my candidacy for state senate. Last June Senator Beavers announced that she would not seek re-election to the state senate. I had every reason to believe her - she issued press releases and gave interviews; she purchased materials such as bumper stickers; she had a booth at the Wilson County Fair, gave speeches and even engaged her opponents. In good faith, I investigated running for the senate seat. And in August, after weeks of research to learn the issues of the district by meeting with members of the communities, I concluded that I could make an effective contribution so I launched a campaign which has now covered nearly nine months. Beginning in September, several fine candidates declared their decision to run for House District 57. This past week, Senator Beavers suddenly held a press conference to announce that she has changed her mind - she will be entering the state senate race after-all. Naturally, I was astonished. And I felt a heavy moral responsibility to meet with the candidates seeking the House seat I now hold. My initial response is that the only ethical decision is to continue my candidacy for the state senate. This will afford the citizens of the district a conservative choice but with two vastly different leadership styles, and arguably varied levels of effectiveness. I am asking for your commitment to support my decision to run by voting for me in the Republican Senate Primary Election in August, and by helping with my campaign. The 17th District Senate seat belongs to the people of the 17th District - I hope that you feel that my work on your behalf has proved me worthy of your trust and of the honor of representing you in the State Senate. Juvenile sexual offender registry measure discussed Lengthy debate in House Judiciary Committee A bill that would strengthen the state’s sexual offender laws and ensure Tennessee is completely in compliance with the federal government’s Adam Walsh Act was discussed at length Tuesday evening in the House Judiciary Committee. House Bill 2789 would require violent juvenile sexual offenders age 14 years or older to register on a sexual offender registry. Due to some concerns regarding juveniles who may not re-offend, an amendment was added to the bill. Currently, juveniles are assessed by mental health professionals after being adjudicated for a violent sexual crime. The Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations agreed to assess the juveniles as “high- risk” and “low-risk,” with only those assessed as “high-risk” being required to register. In addition, the bill states that a person must stay on the registry for 25 years and then may apply for removal. However, if the person is convicted of an additional offense, they must stay on the registry for life. These are the minimum requirements that keep the legislation in compliance with the Adam Walsh Act. The federal government signed the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act into law in 2006, and as is often the case with federal legislation, state compliance is tied to grant money issued to the courts, with 10 percent in jeopardy unless House Bill 2789 passes. Thirty-two states have some form of a violent juvenile sexual offender registry. The offenses that would qualify a violent juvenile sexual offender for the registry are aggravated rape, rape, aggravated sexual battery when coercion is involved, rape of a child with a victim at least four years younger, and aggravated rape of a child or the attempt of any of these. After four and a half hours of discussion, the bill was deferred for one week. The legislation will be heard again in the Judiciary Committee next week and is expected to be voted on at that time. Bill seeks to curb illegal drug activity from out-of-state “pill mills” The House Judiciary Committees approved legislation this week to attack a major source of illegal drug activity in Tennessee. House Bill 3221 would stiffen penalties against those who get prescriptions in another state and return to illegally distribute drugs in Tennessee. Some Tennessee law enforcement officers have noted the misuse of prescription drugs by those who obtain them legally from out-of-state “pill mills.” The most common drugs found are OxyContin, Darvon, and Vicodin, but drug busts in Tennessee also have included Xanax and Roxicodones. The legislation would increase the penalties for the illegal trafficking of out-of-state drugs from a Class C misdemeanor, which carries a 30-day jail term and up to $50 in fines, to a Class D felony, with a 2 to 12 years in prison sentence and up to $5,000 in fines. Lawmakers filed the bill after law enforcement officials in East Tennessee counties brought the matter to their attention. Tennessee law requires all entities that dispense medications to file information regarding controlled substances on a state database to monitor abuse. That law has helped curb prescription drug abuse by providing information to those prescribing and dispensing the drugs to alert them of potential abusers. Although 40 states have laws establishing drug monitoring programs, Florida is among those who do not have a program. That state now has one of the highest concentrations of pain clinics in the U.S., including those housed in shopping centers. This has caused other states to pass laws cracking down on offenders who traffic these drugs within their boundaries. 2010 Census forms to be mailed mid-March Every ten years the federal government counts every resident in the United States as required by the United States Constitution. The census data is used for many different purposes, including identifying certain communities for funding and the redistricting of legislative and congressional seats. Every household in the United States and Puerto Rico will receive a census form that residents are asked to fill out and return. If a household does not return the form, a census worker is then dispatched to the household to gather the needed information. The Census Bureau has sent out information recently regarding the types of questions that will be asked, and warning citizens to be on alert for people posing as census workers. When a census worker visits a home, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Citizens can refuse to take part, but the most important question is simply regarding the number of people who live at the address. Citizens should know that a census worker will never ask for any information such as a social security number, bank account number, or credit card numbers and will never solicit a donation. The Census Bureau will also never send out an E-mail to communicate with citizens. The federal government has advised the census forms will be mailed mid-March, and ask that the forms be returned by April 1, 2010. For more information on the 2010 Census, please visit 2010.census.gov. In Brief • HJR 744 - A Resolution expressing Tennessee’s friendship and support of the State of Israel. • A bill that would allow the Tennessee Regulatory Authority to regulate carbon dioxide that is transported through pipelines was delayed two weeks by the sponsor. • HB3301 A bill to have abortion clinics post a sign warning that it is illegal to coerce anyone into having an abortion passed out of Public Facilities Sub- committee. • House Bill 3105 passed out of the House Education Committee this week and would require local boards of education to give preference to a parent’s request in classroom placement of multiple birth siblings. • A bill that would prohibit physicians who are on the sexual offender registry from treating children under the age of 18 years old passed out of the House Judiciary Committee this week. House Bill 3063 will now be heard in the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee. • The House was treated to a presentation on Monday evening from Little Jimmy Dickens as they honored him for his extensive career in country music. House Joint Resolution 244 lauded his country music career of more than 60 years, and paid homage to his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1983. • House Bill 2768 moved out of the House Judiciary Committee and will next be heard in the House Budget Subcommittee. The bill would require certain DUI offenders to have an ignition interlock device placed on their vehicle. |
Susan Lynn
Susan Lynn
| State Senate |
| State Senate |
| The Weekly Wrap - a newsletter of Rep. Susan Lynn March 11, 2010 |
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If you do not find what you are looking for, please call my office at 615-741-7462. We are happy to assist you.
If you do not find what you are looking for, please call my office at 615-741-7462. We are happy to assist you.
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