Contact:  Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336 or email:  darlene.schlicher@capitol.tn.gov

(NASHVILLE, TN), April 13, 2010 -- The Senate has approved legislation sponsored by Senator Doug Overbey (R-Maryville) that would provide assistance to homeowners who are about to lose their home due to non-payment and gives them the opportunity to contact their lender in an effort to avoid foreclosure.  The bill, Senate Bill 3519, works to find a resolution and to see if there are any governmental programs or other assistance available to homeowners to help them avoid a foreclosure sale

“This bill provides more opportunity for homeowners to work with their bank to try and find some resolution to avoid a foreclosure sale or to see if there are any governmental programs available that they can qualify for to avoid a foreclosure sale,” said Senator Overbey.  “It is a timely bill given where we are in the current state of the economy and the high number of foreclosures.”

Tennessee ranked 26th in the nation in February according to Realty Trac Inc.’s U.S. Foreclosure Market Report.  The state has consistently ranked among states with the highest number of foreclosures for the past decade.  

Overbey’s legislation requires that a lender, trustee, or other creditor send the debtor a notice of the right to foreclose no less than 60 days prior to the first publication of a notice of a foreclosure sale of a deed of trust, mortgage, or other lien securing the payment on an owner-occupied residence. The notice must contain sufficient information to allow the debtor to contact the lender to discuss options available to the debtor. If the trustee determines at the time of the sale that notice of the right to foreclose was not sent to the debtor as required, the debtor may request postponement of the sale for 30 to 60 additional days to allow time needed to examine other possible resolutions. 

“This is a time of great hardship for many Tennessee families who are having trouble making their mortgage payments,” added Overbey.  “This legislation gives them an additional tool to help them save their home by working out a resolution with their lender.”  

The bill now goes to Governor Phil Bredesen for his signature.

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Contact:  Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336 or email:  darlene.schlicher@capitol.tn.gov

(NASHVILLE, TN), April 12, 2010 -- The State Senate today unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Jamie Woodson (R-Knoxville) that aims to reduce the risk of child abduction in Tennessee.  The bill, Senate Bill 3065, would provide courts with guidelines to follow regarding potential child abductions and provide courts with appropriate measures to prevent these crimes. 
 
“Child abduction is a serious problem,” said Speaker Woodson.  “In 2002, over 260,000 children were abducted.  Certainly, having open communications between courts and a clear set of guidelines will be very helpful to our Tennessee courts in reducing these terrible crimes." 

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 78% of these children were abducted by a family member.  The Center claims families going through custody disputes and divorce proceedings are the highest risk group for potential abduction.

The legislation would provide judges with information about abduction risk factors so that they can place appropriate restrictions to prevent abductions.  Among factors included are whether the respondent has previously abducted or attempted to abduct the child; has threatened to abduct the child; has engaged in domestic violence; has refused to follow a child-custody determination; has strong family or cultural ties to another state or country; or other related factors.  Using these guidelines the court must determine that there is a credible risk of child abduction, and then the court may consider preventative measures.

“A wide variety of factors will be considered by the court,” added Woodson.  “While courts currently have discretion to take many of these steps, some courts are not particularly familiar with the wide variety of both domestic and international abduction signs.  This bill lays out a list of factors that should be considered to determine whether there is a credible risk that a child will be abducted in order to reduce this crime on the front end before great emotional or physical harm occurs to the child.”

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Contact:  Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336 or email:  darlene.schlicher@capitol.tn.gov

 (NASHVILLE, TN), April 8, 2010 -- Senate Finance Chairman Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) said today that Tennessee’s credit rating has been adjusted from a AA to a AAA rating by one of the nation’s leading credit rating agency.  Fitch Ratings, who made the upgrade, is a leading global rating agency which provides the world's credit markets with independent credit opinions.  Fitch, together with Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s, are the three nationally recognized statistical rating organizations designated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“This is not an upgrade for Tennessee relative to its peers in state government,” said Senator McNally in speaking to members of the Senate yesterday regarding the matter.  “However, it is a more favorable rating as compared with non-governmental debt issuers, including those in the private sector.”

The bond credit rating assesses the credit worthiness of a government’s or corporation’s debt issues.  It is a financial indicator to potential investors of debt securities, such as bonds.   The rating ranges from a AAA, at the high end to a CC on the low end, in representing the quality of a bond.

“It is very important that Tennessee practices fiscal restraint as our credit rating is critical to state and local governments in the issuance of bonds,” added McNally.  “We will continue to work to gain the highest ratings available.”

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. --- State Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville) has been reappointed by Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey to serve on the West Tennessee River Basin Authority.  The term will run through January 2013. 

The Authority has 31 members, most of whom represent the county governments of West Tennessee.  By law, two members of the state House of Representatives and two members of the Senate, all from West Tennessee, also serve as members.  In conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Authority serves to protect and sustain the watersheds and adjoining lands of West Tennessee.

Norris previously served as Vice-Chairman of the Shelby County Chickasaw Basin Authority and chaired the Metropolitan Storm Water Study Commission before his election to the State Senate in 2000. He was instrumental in securing funding for the acquisition of greenbelt and flood storage along the Wolf River, as well as the environmental remediation project by the Corps of Engineers.  He also serves on the Advisory Council of the Mississippi River Corridor-Tennessee and was influential in obtaining National Scenic Byway designation of West Tennessee’s Great River Road last year.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving my fellow West Tennesseans in this capacity.  I look forward to working with the West Tennessee Basin Authority and supporting landowners while providing good stewardship of our natural resources,” said Norris.  “During this appointment, I will continue efforts to improve the Lower Mississippi River Basin by strengthening her tributaries.”  Norris is currently working with the USDA on the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative to improve water quality in the Forked Deer, Obion, and Red River watersheds.

Senator Norris serves as Majority Leader in the Tennessee Senate and represents District 32, which includes Dyer, Lauderdale, Tipton, and Shelby Counties.

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Contact:  Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336 or email:  darlene.schlicher@capitol.tn.gov

(NASHVILLE, TN), April 8, 2010 – The State Senate today approved legislation sponsored by State Senator Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) asking Congress to submit to the states for ratification an amendment to stop the practice of passing unfunded mandates and programs to the states.  The resolution comes just weeks after Congress passed a massive healthcare bill that the Pew Center on the States publication Stateline says, “will cost states over $20 billion in the next decade.”

“The most recent act by Congress on healthcare could cost Tennessee as much as $200 million annually,” said Senator McNally, who is Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.  “Also, one other part of that bill, which the state’s insurance plan is reviewing, is how much it would cost in additional insurance premiums, so we expect that the cost will increase.”

The proposed amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 715, would ban unfunded mandates beginning 2013, except in a situation of financial emergency as declared by a two-thirds vote of Congress.  It would also prohibit the federal government from authorizing state participation in federal programs or services unless funding is guaranteed by the federal government for the full duration of the programs or services. If federal funds are not appropriated for the program or service, the law enacted or regulation promulgated would become null and void.

“States are struggling right now,” McNally added.  “We cannot continue to fund federal programs or mandates without making substantial cuts to critical programs, like education.  Hopefully, this resolution will send Washington a message that states need stability in budgeting, rather than more federal mandates.”

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Contact:  Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336 or email:  darlene.schlicher@capitol.tn.gov

(NASHVILLE, TN), April 8, 2010 –  All members of the State Senate today joined Senator Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) in sponsoring and approving a resolution to urge Congress to include Oak Ridge in any new national park unit being considered in conjunction with the Manhattan Project Sites. The proposal, Senate Joint Resolution 761, comes after the National Park Service recently proposed a Manhattan Project National Historical Park at Los Alamos, New Mexico. 

“More than 60% of the Manhattan Project budget was spent at Oak Ridge,” said Senator McNally.  “We are also near the most visited national park in the nation which would draw visitors.  The National Park Service should take a second look at this matter, considering these facts and the historic and educational resources already available at the Oak Ridge Laboratory.”

Currently, there are no national parks that preserve Manhattan Project resources or tell the story of the top-secret World War II project that created the world’s first atomic bombs.

(NASHVILLE, TN), April 7, 2010 – Senate Education Chairman Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville) announced today that the Haywood County School District has been awarded $31,350 in grant initiative funds from Tennessee’s Energy Efficient Schools Initiative (EESI).  The grant will allow for the installation of energy efficient HVAC equipment at East Side Elementary School. 

“I am very pleased that Haywood County has access to this grant to improve energy efficiency at East Side Elementary,” said Senator Gresham. “This will assist in fostering a healthier and safe learning environment for our students, while saving the county money in energy costs.”

The General Assembly passed legislation in 2008 that implemented Tennessee’s Energy Efficient Schools Initiative, a move supported by Senator Gresham. The grants were to be awarded to school districts to assist the schools in becoming more energy efficient, resulting in lower operating costs and creating a better learning environment for Tennessee students.

“Families, businesses, and governments are struggling right now as the economy has been dismal. This grant money will assist in improving energy efficiency, which in turn will save money in the future,” Gresham added.

For more information about the Energy Efficient Schools Initiative, please visit www.tn.gov/eesi. 

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Contact:  Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336 or email:  darlene.schlicher@legislature.state.tn.us

(NASHVILLE, TN), April 7, 2010  -- The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a resolution sponsored by Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet), calling for an elected State Attorney General (AG).  The resolution, Senate Joint Resolution 698, was approved during a late Tuesday meeting of the panel.

     “Tennessee is the only state in the nation that allows the State Supreme Court to select the attorney general,” said Senator Beavers, who is Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.  “Forty-three states already select their attorney generals through popular election and it is time for this General Assembly to also show their confidence in the collective wisdom of the people of Tennessee.”

     In six other states, the Attorney General is selected by either the popularly elected Governor or the popularly elected state legislature.  Beavers said that when Tennessee’s Constitution was written calling for nomination by the Supreme Court Justices, the court was popularly elected. 

     “Tennessee is the only state in the nation in which the people have neither a direct nor indirect voice in the selection of their Attorney General,” Beavers added.  “Someone has to be accountable to the people, and yesterday’s AG opinion on the Health Freedom Act shows once again, the importance of having an Attorney General who represents the will of the people of this state.”

     The resolution offered by Beavers would amend the state’s Constitution to allow a popular election every four years.  The amendment process would require approval by both the 106th General Assembly currently in session, and the 107th, which will take office in 2011.  If approved, the question would then go to voters in a statewide referendum in the year 2014.

     “Along with the overwhelming majority of Tennesseans and 96% of the rest of this nation, I feel that the citizens of this state ought to have a ‘say so’ in the highest legal office in Tennessee,” she concluded.

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 (NASHVILLE, TN), April 5, 2010 -- State Senator Diane Black (R-Gallatin) announced today she will push for passage of legislation she is sponsoring in the State Senate this year to prohibit taxpayer-funded coverage associated with the federal healthcare bill for abortion services in Tennessee.  Black maintains an Executive Order signed by President Obama as part of an agreement to gain the votes of a key block of anti-abortion Democrats as the price for the massive federal health care law will not stop federal funding of the procedure. 

 “We are not comfortable that the Executive Order will stand up to protect the life of the unborn,” said Senator Black.  “It does not fix the fact that this federal health care law clearly allows for the funding of elective abortions. We must take every action possible to protect Tennessee from being a part of a plan that allows for funding abortions.” 

The bill sponsored by Black prohibits any health care plan established pursuant to federal health care reform legislation enacted by the 111th United States Congress from offering coverage for abortion services.  It is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Commerce Committee next week.

 “We have worked for years to ensure that taxpayer money is not used for abortion services in Tennessee,” added Black.  “We must fight back against this overreach of federal power.”

Currently, the TennCare program reimburses for abortions in the cases of rape or incest as required by current federal law.  Black was sponsor of a resolution to give Tennesseans the opportunity to restore their voice in determining what state law should be regarding common sense protections for abortions.  She also sponsored a new law to defund Planned Parenthood by ensuring that family planning funds go to public women’s health service providers first. 

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(NASHVILLE, TN), March 31, 2010 – The Senate State and Local Government Committee has approved legislation to increase the number of college graduates by providing essential education to parents and students about how to save for college.  The bill, Senate Bill 3234 sponsored by Senate Education Committee Chairman Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville), would create an 11-member Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission to establish a state clearinghouse of information, resources, and assistance for improving financial literacy in the area of college savings.

“This legislation follows on the heels of the “Complete College Act” passed during the Special Session on Education in January,” said Chairman Gresham.  “If we are going to increase the number of college graduates in Tennessee, we must also concentrate on helping prepare parents and students for the financial challenges they will face upon entering post-secondary education.  This bill would work to accomplish that purpose.”

The "Complete College Tennessee Act of 2010" revised the Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s master planning responsibility to increase college completion, address economic development needs and differentiate institutional missions to increase collaboration and efficiency between Tennessee’s post-secondary schools.  Lawmakers believe the new law and other reform measures for K-12 education passed during the Special Session will boost the number of college-bound students.  This week, the Department of Education announced they will invest approximately $500 million in Tennessee to boost K-12 efforts through the Race to the Top program. 

Provisions in the financial literacy bill include:
create and implement education programs to improve financial literacy with a focus on elementary school parents and students
establish a website for financial literacy and college-saving resources
make grants and award to programs for financial literacy education
initiate education program and campaigns to promote financial literacy education.

“I am very pleased this bill is progressing through our committee system,” added Gresham.  “This will help students and their families make a huge investment in their future by helping them find the best resources available to help them save for college.”

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