Welcome, Erika!
Welcome Erika Burnett, the new Executive Director of the Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga.
We are delighted to announce our next Executive Director is Erika R. Burnett, a long time Nashville resident, entrepreneur, founder, innovator, teacher and advocate.
Erika’s leadership experience, strategic thinking, and passion for addressing root problems facing women and girls in our state stood out during our interview process. We’re looking forward to having her in Chattanooga as we grow the Women’s Fund and advocate for women and girls in our community and across the state. Her skills align with our key priorities: leading local and state advocacy, encouraging women-led philanthropy, and creating strong networks of women in our region.
In her most recent role, Erika served as founder and principal trainer for the Burnett Group, offering a full range of human capital training and consulting. Leveraging her years of nonprofit leadership and community engagement experience, she led professional growth, training, and development opportunities. In this role, Erika developed expertise in a wide variety of topics including volunteer management and engagement, diversity and inclusion, youth development, team building, leadership exploration, and generational differences.
In 2018, she, alongside business partner Nicole Kemp, launched the Women of Color Collaborative, embodying her strong commitment to advocating, empowering and securing resources for women and girls to work, play and build together.
Before starting her consultancy, Burnett served the community in a variety of roles including Expert Workshop Facilitator at the Center for Nonprofit Management (Nashville), Affiliate Director at Communities in Schools of Tennessee, Director of Programs, Advocacy and Organizing at Leadership for Educational Equity, and Senior Director of Programs at Hands On Nashville.
Please help us welcome Erika to the Womens’ Fund and Chattanooga. Thank you all for your continued support as we take Tennessee from 49 to One!
2020 Legislative Priorities - March 16 Update
2020 Legislative Priorities: Updated March 16
Partner Organizations’ Legislative Priorities
Advocate Confidentiality - led by AWAKE
1. HB2171/SB2742 - Victim’s Rights - This bill prohibits an advocate from disclosing communications received from a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking in a judicial, legislative, or administrative proceeding unless the victim gives express written consent. (Aligns with Violence & Safety measures from 49 to One report and supports our victim advocate partners locally and statewide.)
Update: HB on Judiciary calendar for Wednesday, March 19; SB PASSED
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - led by A Better Balance
2. HB2708/SB2520 - Employees/Employers - This bill prohibits employers from discriminating against applicants and employees with pregnancy-related conditions by not providing them with reasonable accommodations. (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.).
Update: HB on Government Operations calendar for Monday, March 16; SB on Floor calendar for Monday, March 16.
Improving the Health Outcomes of Incarcerated Women and Their Pregnancies - led by Healthy & Free Tennessee
3. HB1651/SB1839 - Prisons and Reformatory Institutions - This bill requires a physician to provide prenatal and postpartum medical care to pregnant prisoners and detainees; requires correctional institutions to provide pregnant prisoners nutritionally appropriate meals and supplemental provisions. (Aligns with both Health & Wellness and Reproductive Rights measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB on State calendar for Tuesday, March 17; SB on Floor consent calendar for Monday, March 16
Voting Rights Restoration - led by Think Tennessee
4. HB547/SB589 - Criminal Procedure - This bill restores the voting rights of persons convicted of certain crimes upon receipt of a pardon or completion of any sentence of incarceration, parole, or probation. Among other things, it removes legal/financial obligations as a barrier to voting eligibility. (Aligns with Political Participation measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: The sponsors and leading advocacy organizations are deliberating new approaches to restoration based on a recent AG opinion about the relationship between voting rights restoration and restitution payments.
Maintaining Past Gains
Ending Child Marriage and Forced Marriage in Tennessee
5. OPPOSE: HB2310/SB2290 - This bill deletes the statutes on marriage licensing and ceremonies, effectively rolling back the strides we made to end child marriage and to impose penalties for forced or coerced marriage.
Update: HB is on Children & Families sub calendar for Wednesday, March 18.
Combating Suicide in Tennessee
6. HB159/SB1465 - Health Care - This bill extends the Suicide Prevention Act of 2018 indefinitely and requires the department of health to compile data on the medications that were prescribed to those dying from suicide. It also includes reporting requirements.
Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking
7. HB2093/SB2043 - Children’s Services, Department of - This bill requires the department to publish the guidelines for best practices in identifying and reporting signs of child abuse, child sexual abuse, and human trafficking in which the victim is a child on the department’s website.
Update: HB on Judiciary calendar for Wednesday, March 18
Streamlining the Rape Kit Process - Priority of Coalition to End DV & SV
8. HB2191/SB2121 - Sexual Offenses - This bill revises and enacts various provisions regarding the rights of victims of sexually oriented crimes, including decreasing the time period within which a law enforcement agency must submit a sexual assault evidence collection (SAEC) kit to the TBI, requiring the TBI to begin analyzing an SAEC kit within 30 days of receipt, requiring the TBI to create a tracking system for SAEC kits, and prohibiting the use of forensic evidence against the victim in certain circumstances.
Update: HB on Judiciary calendar for Wednesday, March 18; SB on Judiciary calendar for Tuesday, March 17.
49 to One Strategic Priorities
Eliminating Barriers to Secondary Education
9. HB379/SB823 - Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation - This bill requires TSAC to promulgate rules designating pregnancy as an approved medical leave of absence for purposes of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship. (Aligns with Poverty and Opportunity measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: PASSED
Firearms Restrictions for Offenders
10. OPPOSE: HB1662/SB1999 - Firearms and Ammunition - This is a bill that we opposed and stopped (with partners across the state) last session, but it’s back. This bill replaces the firearms surrender affidavit completed by those convicted of domestic violence crimes and instead requires a defendant, prior to entering a guilty plea for a domestic violence offense, to sign a domestic violence offense firearm notification form stating the requirements of lawful dispossession.
(Aligns with Violence and Safety measures from 49 to One report.)
Equal Pay for Tennessee Women
11. HB1588/SB1721 - Sex Discrimination - This bill enacts the “Tennessee Pay Equality Act.”
Update: SB on Commerce and Labor calendar for Tuesday, March 17.
12. HB2387/SB1853 - General Assembly, Directed Studies - This bill directs the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations to perform a study to determine what disparities persist between equal pay for equal work between men and women of the public sector in this state. (These bills align with both the Employment & Earnings and Poverty & Opportunity measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: Failed in Employee Affairs sub.
Family Leave Legislation
13. HB2024/SB1786 - Public Employees - This bill provides paid family and medical leave for state employees and teachers. (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)
14. HB2265/SB2198 - State Employees - This bill was filed as a caption, but will be a (significantly) reduced version of the Governor’s Paid Leave announcement.
Update: HB on Public Service and Employees sub calendar for Wednesday, March 18; SB on State and Local calendar for Tuesday, March 17.
Advancing Sex Education in Tennessee
15. HB2434/SB2583 - Education, Curriculum - This bill deletes the family life curriculum that only allows students to receive education on sexual risk avoidance through abstinence and requires each LEA and public charter school that serves any of the grades kindergarten through 12 to provide students with medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education that teaches students about abstinence, contraception, consent, and how to develop healthy relationships and communication skills.
Update: HB on Curriculum sub calendar for Tuesday, March 17; SB on Education calendar for Monday, March 16.
16. HB2527/SB2411 - Education, Curriculum - This bill requires the state board of education to develop standards, and the department of education to develop an aligned curriculum, for instruction on healthy relationships in the lifetime wellness standards.
(These bills align with the Reproductive Rights measures from the 49 to One report.)
Update: HB on Education calendar for Wednesday, March 18; SB on Education calendar for Monday, March 16.
Additional Priority
17. HB2509/SB2797 - Public Funds and Financing - This bill adds requirements to the spending, dedicating, or reserve of certain funds from the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) program by the department of human services and the department of health.
Update: HB on Public Health sub calendar for Tuesday, March 17.
2020 Legislative Priorities - March 9 Update
2020 Legislative Priorities - March 9, 11:15am Update
Partner Organizations’ Legislative Priorities
Advocate Confidentiality - led by AWAKE
1. HB2171/SB2742 - Victim’s Rights: This bill prohibits an advocate from disclosing communications received from a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking in a judicial, legislative, or administrative proceeding unless the victim gives express written consent. (Aligns with Violence & Safety measures from 49 to One report and supports our victim advocate partners locally and statewide.)
Update: HB on Judiciary calendar for Wednesday, March 11; SB PASSED!!!
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - led by A Better Balance
2. HB2708/SB2520 - Employees/Employers: This bill prohibits employers from discriminating against applicants and employees with pregnancy-related conditions by not providing them with reasonable accommodations. (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB passed first committee, assigned to Government Operations next; SB in Commerce & Labor on Tuesday, March 10
Improving the Health Outcomes of Incarcerated Women and Their Pregnancies - led by Healthy & Free Tennessee
3. HB1651/SB1839 - Prisons and Reformatory Institutions: This bill requires a physician to provide prenatal and postpartum medical care to pregnant prisoners and detainees; requires correctional institutions to provide pregnant prisoners nutritionally appropriate meals and supplemental provisions. (Aligns with both Health & Wellness and Reproductive Rights measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB passed subcommittee, in State Committee on Tuesday, March 10; SB in Health & Welfare on March 9
Voting Rights Restoration - led by Think Tennessee
4. HB547/SB589 - Criminal Procedure: This bill restores the voting rights of persons convicted of certain crimes upon receipt of a pardon or completion of any sentence of incarceration, parole, or probation. Among other things, it removes legal/financial obligations as a barrier to voting eligibility. (Aligns with Political Participation measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB assigned to Judiciary; SB assigned to Judiciary general subcommittee
Maintaining Past Gains
Ending Child Marriage and Forced Marriage in Tennessee
5. OPPOSE: HB2310/SB2290: This bill deletes the statutes on marriage licensing and ceremonies, effectively rolling back the strides we made to end child marriage and to impose penalties for forced or coerced marriage.
Update: HB assigned to Children & Families subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary
Combating Suicide in Tennessee
6. HB159/SB1465 - Health Care: This bill extends the Suicide Prevention Act of 2018 indefinitely and requires the department of health to compile data on the medications that were prescribed to those dying from suicide. It also includes reporting requirements.
Update: HB assigned to Finance, Ways and Means subcommittee; SB assigned to Finance subcommittee
Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking
7. HB2093/SB2043 - Children’s Services, Department of: This bill requires the department to publish the guidelines for best practices in identifying and reporting signs of child abuse, child sexual abuse, and human trafficking in which the victim is a child on the department’s website.
Update: HB in Judiciary on Wednesday, March 11; SB assigned to Judiciary
Streamlining the Rape Kit Process - Priority Bill of Coalition to End DV and SV
8. HB2191/SB2121 - Sexual Offenses: This bill revises and enacts various provisions regarding the rights of victims of sexually oriented crimes, including decreasing the time period within which a law enforcement agency must submit a sexual assault evidence collection (SAEC) kit to the TBI, requiring the TBI to begin analyzing an SAEC kit within 30 days of receipt, requiring the TBI to create a tracking system for SAEC kits, and prohibiting the use of forensic evidence against the victim in certain circumstances.
Update: HB in Criminal Justice subcommittee on Tuesday, March 10 ; SB assigned to Judiciary
Survivor Victim Relief
9. FOLLOW: HB2530/SB2811 - Criminal Procedure: This bill specifies that a trafficking victim filing a petition for expunction must not have been convicted of any federal offenses or offenses in any other state, or possibly is intended to extend expunction limits. (This was filed as a caption bill, so we are seeking clarification about the intent.)
Update: HB assigned to Constitutional Protections subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary
49 to One Strategic Priorities
Eliminating Barriers to Secondary Education
10. HB379/SB823 - Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation: This bill requires TSAC to promulgate rules designating pregnancy as an approved medical leave of absence for purposes of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship. (Aligns with Poverty and Opportunity measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: PASSED
Firearms Restrictions for Offenders
11. OPPOSE: HB1662/SB1999 - Firearms and Ammunition: This is a bill that we opposed and stopped (with partners across the state) last session, but it’s back. This bill replaces the firearms surrender affidavit completed by those convicted of domestic violence crimes and instead requires a defendant, prior to entering a guilty plea for a domestic violence offense, to sign a domestic violence offense firearm notification form stating the requirements of lawful dispossession. (Aligns with Violence and Safety measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB assigned to Constitutional Protections subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary
Equal Pay for Tennessee Women
12. HB1588/SB1721 - Sex Discrimination: This bill enacts the “Tennessee Pay Equality Act.”
Update: HB assigned to Employee Affairs subcommittee; SB assigned to Commerce & Labor
13. HB2387/SB1853 - General Assembly, Directed Studies: This bill directs the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations to perform a study to determine what disparities persist between equal pay for equal work between men and women of the public sector in this state. (These bills align with both the Employment & Earnings and Poverty & Opportunity measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB in Employee Affairs subcommittee on Tuesday, March 10; SB assigned to Commerce & Labor
Family Leave Legislation
14. HB2024/SB1786 - Public Employees: This bill provides paid family and medical leave for state employees and teachers. (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB in Employee Affairs subcommittee on Tuesday, March 10; SB assigned to State & Local
Advancing Sex Education in Tennessee
15. HB2434/SB2583 - Education, Curriculum: This bill deletes the family life curriculum that only allows students to receive education on sexual risk avoidance through abstinence and requires each LEA and public charter school that serves any of the grades kindergarten through 12 to provide students with medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education that teaches students about abstinence, contraception, consent, and how to develop healthy relationships and communication skills.
Update: HB assigned to Curriculum subcommittee; SB in Education committee on Wednesday, March 11
16. HB2527/SB2411 - Education, Curriculum: This bill requires the state board of education to develop standards, and the department of education to develop an aligned curriculum, for instruction on healthy relationships in the lifetime wellness standards. (These bills align with the Reproductive Rights measures from the 49 to One report.)
Update: HB in Education committee on Wednesday, March 11; SB: Education committee
2020 Legislative Priority List: March 2 Update
2020 Legislative Priorities - March 2, 11:15am Update
Partner Organizations’ Legislative Priorities
Advocate Confidentiality - led by AWAKE
1. HB2171/SB2742 - Victim’s Rights: This bill prohibits an advocate from disclosing communications received from a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking in a judicial, legislative, or administrative proceeding unless the victim gives express written consent. (Aligns with Violence & Safety measures from 49 to One report and supports our victim advocate partners locally and statewide.)
Update: HB passed subcommittee, moving to Judiciary; SB passed Judiciary, moving to Floor Vote
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - led by A Better Balance
2. HB2708/SB2520 - Employees/Employers: This bill prohibits employers from discriminating against applicants and employees with pregnancy-related conditions by not providing them with reasonable accommodations. (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB passed Employee Affairs subcommittee, in Human Resources subcommittee today; SB in Commerce & Labor on Tuesday
Improving the Health Outcomes of Incarcerated Women and Their Pregnancies - led by Healthy & Free Tennessee
3. HB1651/SB1839 - Prisons and Reformatory Institutions: This bill requires a physician to provide prenatal and postpartum medical care to pregnant prisoners and detainees; requires correctional institutions to provide pregnant prisoners nutritionally appropriate meals and supplemental provisions. (Aligns with both Health & Wellness and Reproductive Rights measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB passed subcommittee, in State Committee on Tuesday; SB assigned to Health & Welfare
Voting Rights Restoration - led by Think Tennessee
4. HB547/SB589 - Criminal Procedure: This bill restores the voting rights of persons convicted of certain crimes upon receipt of a pardon or completion of any sentence of incarceration, parole, or probation. Among other things, it removes legal/financial obligations as a barrier to voting eligibility. (Aligns with Political Participation measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB assigned to Judiciary; SB assigned to Judiciary general subcommittee
Maintaining Past Gains
Ending Child Marriage and Forced Marriage in Tennessee
5. OPPOSE: HB2310/SB2290: This bill deletes the statutes on marriage licensing and ceremonies, effectively rolling back the strides we made to end child marriage and to impose penalties for forced or coerced marriage.
Update: HB assigned to Children & Families subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary
Combating Suicide in Tennessee
6. HB159/SB1465 - Health Care: This bill extends the Suicide Prevention Act of 2018 indefinitely and requires the department of health to compile data on the medications that were prescribed to those dying from suicide. It also includes reporting requirements.
Update: HB assigned to Finance, Ways and Means subcommittee; SB assigned to Finance subcommittee
Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking
7. HB2093/SB2043 - Children’s Services, Department of: This bill requires the department to publish the guidelines for best practices in identifying and reporting signs of child abuse, child sexual abuse, and human trafficking in which the victim is a child on the department’s website.
Update: HB in Children & Families subcommittee on Wednesday; SB assigned to Judiciary
Streamlining the Rape Kit Process - Priority Bill of Coalition to End DV and SV
8. HB2191/SB2121 - Sexual Offenses: This bill revises and enacts various provisions regarding the rights of victims of sexually oriented crimes, including decreasing the time period within which a law enforcement agency must submit a sexual assault evidence collection (SAEC) kit to the TBI, requiring the TBI to begin analyzing an SAEC kit within 30 days of receipt, requiring the TBI to create a tracking system for SAEC kits, and prohibiting the use of forensic evidence against the victim in certain circumstances.
Update: HB assigned to Criminal Justice subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary
Survivor Victim Relief
9. FOLLOW: HB2530/SB2811 - Criminal Procedure: This bill specifies that a trafficking victim filing a petition for expunction must not have been convicted of any federal offenses or offenses in any other state, or possibly is intended to extend expunction limits. (This was filed as a caption bill, so we are seeking clarification about the intent.)
Update: HB assigned to Constitutional Protections subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary
49 to One Strategic Priorities
Eliminating Barriers to Secondary Education
10. HB379/SB823 - Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation: This bill requires TSAC to promulgate rules designating pregnancy as an approved medical leave of absence for purposes of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship. (Aligns with Poverty and Opportunity measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB Floor Vote TODAYt; SB passed committees, moving to consent calendar
Firearms Restrictions for Offenders
11. OPPOSE: HB1662/SB1999 - Firearms and Ammunition: This is a bill that we opposed and stopped (with partners across the state) last session, but it’s back. This bill replaces the firearms surrender affidavit completed by those convicted of domestic violence crimes and instead requires a defendant, prior to entering a guilty plea for a domestic violence offense, to sign a domestic violence offense firearm notification form stating the requirements of lawful dispossession. (Aligns with Violence and Safety measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB assigned to Constitutional Protections subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary
Equal Pay for Tennessee Women
12. HB1588/SB1721 - Sex Discrimination: This bill enacts the “Tennessee Pay Equality Act.”
Update: HB assigned to Employee Affairs subcommittee; SB assigned to Commerce & Labor
13. HB2387/SB1853 - General Assembly, Directed Studies: This bill directs the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations to perform a study to determine what disparities persist between equal pay for equal work between men and women of the public sector in this state. (These bills align with both the Employment & Earnings and Poverty & Opportunity measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB assigned to Employee Affairs subcommittee; SB assigned to Commerce & Labor
Family Leave Legislation
14. HB2024/SB1786 - Public Employees: This bill provides paid family and medical leave for state employees and teachers. (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB assigned to Public Service & Employees subcommittee; SB assigned to State & Local
Advancing Sex Education in Tennessee
15. HB2434/SB2583 - Education, Curriculum: This bill deletes the family life curriculum that only allows students to receive education on sexual risk avoidance through abstinence and requires each LEA and public charter school that serves any of the grades kindergarten through 12 to provide students with medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education that teaches students about abstinence, contraception, consent, and how to develop healthy relationships and communication skills.
Update: HB assigned to Curriculum subcommittee; SB assigned to Education committee
16. HB2527/SB2411 - Education, Curriculum: This bill requires the state board of education to develop standards, and the department of education to develop an aligned curriculum, for instruction on healthy relationships in the lifetime wellness standards. (These bills align with the Reproductive Rights measures from the 49 to One report.)
Update: HB in Curriculum subcommittee on Tuesday; SB: Education committee
Updated 2020 Legislative Priority List - February 21, 2020
2020 Legislative Priorities - Feb 21 Update
Partner Organizations’ Legislative Priorities
Advocate Confidentiality - led by AWAKE
HB2171/SB2742 - Victim’s Rights: This bill prohibits an advocate from disclosing communications received from a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking in a judicial, legislative, or administrative proceeding unless the victim gives express written consent. (Aligns with Violence & Safety measures from 49 to One report and supports our victim advocate partners locally and statewide.)
Update: HB in Criminal Justice subcommittee on 2/25; SB in Senate Judiciary on 2/25
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - led by A Better Balance
HB2708/SB2520 - Employees/Employers: This bill prohibits employers from discriminating against applicants and employees with pregnancy-related conditions by not providing them with reasonable accommodations. (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB in Employee Affairs subcommittee on 2/25; SB assigned to Commerce & Labor
Improving the Health Outcomes of Incarcerated Women and Their Pregnancies - led by Healthy & Free Tennessee
HB1651/SB1839 - Prisons and Reformatory Institutions: This bill requires a physician to provide prenatal and postpartum medical care to pregnant prisoners and detainees; requires correctional institutions to provide pregnant prisoners nutritionally appropriate meals and supplemental provisions. (Aligns with both Health & Wellness and Reproductive Rights measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB in Correction subcommittee on 2/26; SB assigned to Health & Welfare
Voting Rights Restoration - led by Think Tennessee
HB547/SB589 - Criminal Procedure: This bill restores the voting rights of persons convicted of certain crimes upon receipt of a pardon or completion of any sentence of incarceration, parole, or probation. Among other things, it removes legal/financial obligations as a barrier to voting eligibility. (Aligns with Political Participation measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB assigned to Judiciary; SB assigned to Judiciary subcommittee
Maintaining Past Gains
Ending Child Marriage and Forced Marriage in Tennessee
OPPOSE: HB2310/SB2290: This bill deletes the statutes on marriage licensing and ceremonies, effectively rolling back the strides we made to end child marriage and to impose penalties for forced or coerced marriage.
Update: HB assigned to Children & Families subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary
Combating Suicide in Tennessee
HB159/SB1465 - Health Care: This bill extends the Suicide Prevention Act of 2018 indefinitely and requires the department of health to compile data on the medications that were prescribed to those dying from suicide. It also includes reporting requirements.
Update: HB assigned to Finance, Ways and Means subcommittee; SB assigned to Finance subcommittee
Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking
HB2093/SB2043 - Children’s Services, Department of: This bill requires the department to publish the guidelines for best practices in identifying and reporting signs of child abuse, child sexual abuse, and human trafficking in which the victim is a child on the department’s website.
Update: HB assigned to Children & Families subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary
Streamlining the Rape Kit Process - Priority Bill of Coalition to End DV and SV
HB2191/SB2121 - Sexual Offenses: This bill revises and enacts various provisions regarding the rights of victims of sexually oriented crimes, including decreasing the time period within which a law enforcement agency must submit a sexual assault evidence collection (SAEC) kit to the TBI, requiring the TBI to begin analyzing an SAEC kit within 30 days of receipt, requiring the TBI to create a tracking system for SAEC kits, and prohibiting the use of forensic evidence against the victim in certain circumstances.
Update: HB assigned to Criminal Justice subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary
Survivor Victim Relief
FOLLOWING, NO POSITION YET: HB2530/SB2811 - Criminal Procedure: This bill specifies that a trafficking victim filing a petition for expunction must not have been convicted of any federal offenses or offenses in any other state. This was filed as a caption bill, and we are working hard to determine the intended direction of the bill.
Update: HB in Constitutional Protections subcommittee on 2/25; SB assigned to Judiciary
49 to One Strategic Priorities
Eliminating Barriers to Secondary Education
HB379/SB823 - Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation: This bill requires TSAC to promulgate rules designating pregnancy as an approved medical leave of absence for purposes of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship. (Aligns with Poverty and Opportunity measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB in Government Operations on 2/24 (already passed Education); SB in Education on 2/26
Firearms Restrictions for Offenders
OPPOSE: HB1662/SB1999 - Firearms and Ammunition: This is a bill that we opposed and stopped (with partners across the state) last session, but it’s back. This bill replaces the firearms surrender affidavit completed by those convicted of domestic violence crimes and instead requires a defendant, prior to entering a guilty plea for a domestic violence offense, to sign a domestic violence offense firearm notification form stating the requirements of lawful dispossession. (Aligns with Violence and Safety measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB assigned to Constitutional Protections subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary
Equal Pay for Tennessee Women
HB1588/SB1721 - Sex Discrimination: This bill enacts the “Tennessee Pay Equality Act.”
Update: HB assigned to Employee Affairs subcommittee; SB assigned to Commerce & Labor
HB2387/SB1853 - General Assembly, Directed Studies: This bill directs the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations to perform a study to determine what disparities persist between equal pay for equal work between men and women of the public sector in this state. (These bills align with both the Employment & Earnings and Poverty & Opportunity measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB assigned to Employee Affairs subcommittee; SB assigned to Commerce & Labor
Family Leave Legislation
HB2024/SB1786 - Public Employees : This bill provides paid family and medical leave for state employees and teachers. (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB assigned to Public Service & Employees subcommittee; SB assigned to State & Local
Advancing Sex Education in Tennessee
HB2434/SB2583 - Education, Curriculum: This bill deletes the family life curriculum that only allows students to receive education on sexual risk avoidance through abstinence and requires each LEA and public charter school that serves any of the grades kindergarten through 12 to provide students with medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education that teaches students about abstinence, contraception, consent, and how to develop healthy relationships and communication skills.
Update: HB assigned to Curriculum subcommittee; SB assigned to Education
HB2527/SB2411 - Education, Curriculum: This bill requires the state board of education to develop standards, and the department of education to develop an aligned curriculum, for instruction on healthy relationships in the lifetime wellness standards.
Update: HB assigned to Curriculum subcommittee; SB assigned to Education
(These bills align with the Reproductive Rights measures from the 49 to One report.)
Additional Priority
HB2509/SB2797 - Public Funds and Financing : This bill adds requirements to the spending, dedicating, or reserve of certain funds from the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) program by the department of human services and the department of health.
Update: HB assigned to Public Health subcommittee; SB assigned to Health & Welfare