In First Week of Special Session the Senate Passes Legislation to Fight Human Trafficking
By State Senator Page Walley
Last week, we responded to the governor’s call for a special session on public safety and mental health related issues. The Senate has taken a position to honor the Governor’s request and passed four bills of the six bills he proposed. The Senate is scheduled to reconvene on Monday, August 28, 2023, to wrap up business for the special session. The other remaining bills that were filed for the special session will be addressed in the regular session which starts in January.
One particularly impactful bill we passed in the Senate will help in our efforts to fight human trafficking across the state. The bill requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to submit an annual report to the General Assembly on efforts and updates in their fight against human trafficking. The first report will be due December 1 of this year, so we can be prepared in the regular session to address policy needs. These reports will be an important tool the General Assembly can use when contemplating further legislation to combat child and human trafficking in our state.
For over a decade Tennessee has been a leader in the recognition and identification of victims of human trafficking, but the TBI has not issued a comprehensive report on the statistics and issues facing human trafficking throughout our state in over a decade. I am glad we passed this legislation to increase reporting on the scourge of human trafficking throughout our society. If you recently saw the movie the Sound of Freedom, you will understand exactly why.
Another bill we passed in the Senate encourages safe storage of firearms to prevent thefts and accidents. The bill aims to raise awareness among gun owners of the best practices of safe storage of firearms. It also exempts sales and use taxes on gun safes and safety devices starting November 1, 2023, and provides free gun locks to citizens through the Department of Safety.
The Senate also passed legislation to require courts and other relevant organizations to more timely report information to the TBI’s Tennessee Instant Check System (TICS), which keeps track of those convicted of felonies, adjudicated as mentally defective or involuntarily committed.
We also passed an appropriations bill which funds additional resources for school safety and improves our existing mental health system. The bill invests an additional $10 million towards school safety grants for School Resource Officers (SRO) and School Safety Officers (SSO). This builds on our $140 million investment in the regular session for school safety grants. It also provides $16 million to provide sign on and retention bonuses for behavioral health professionals employed by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
As we head into the second week of the special session, I will continue to keep you updated. I am grateful for those of you who have already contacted my office about your views and the scores of you who have come to participate in your government this last week. As always, please reach out to me if I can assist you in any way: sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov or 615-741-2368.
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