Lottery Scholarship Improvements 

On Tuesday, the Senate Education Committee approved SB 611, which will make a number of changes to the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program (TELS). Sen. Jamie Woodson (R-Knoxville), who serves as chairman of the committee, is sponsoring the legislation.

“Legislative commitment to fiscally responsible policies has provided our legislature with an opportunity to thoughtfully expand our current Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program,” said Woodson.

The bill increases the award for a HOPE scholarship at a four-year school to $4000 and a two-year school to $2000. The Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant was also increased to $2000.

“Increasing scholarship retention has been identified as a top priority,” continued Woodson. “The data shows that improved academic preparation is the key to increasing HOPE scholarship retention.”

Along with award increases, rewarding better preparation, and opening access to lottery scholarship dollars to nontraditional students, the bill also awards students who have a 19/19/19 on the ACT (19 Math, 19 English, 19 Composite) and attend state community colleges.

Further, the bill will assist 5000 additional middle and lower income students through increasing the Tennessee Student Assistance Award resources.

K-12 Capital Project Funding

Also in the Senate Education Committee this week, Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) advanced legislation that will help local governments with K-12 capital projects. 

“The only aspect of the 2002 Constitutional Amendment creating the Tennessee Lottery yet to be enacted by the legislature is using the excess lottery reserves for new K-12 capital outlay projects,” said Tracy. “This plan will put actual dollars into the local school districts for new capital projects.”

As amended, SB 277 will set aside $100 million of the lottery excess reserve fund for the purpose of establishing a K-12 capital outlay grant program. Each school district would be awarded a certain amount of money pursuant to a local match.

The bill now goes to the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, where it must be considered before being acted upon by the full Senate.

Targeting Gang Violence

Sen. Paul Stanley (R-Germantown) won approval in the Senate Judiciary Committee for SB 1322. Known as the “Street Terrorism” legislation, the bill proposes to change the penalty for someone convicted of committing a violent crime in concert with two or more other people to a Class A felony. The offense is currently a Class B felony.

The Tennessee Public Safety Coalition (TPSC), a statewide organization made up of Sheriffs, District Attorneys, and Police chiefs, has made SB 1322 a priority for this legislative session.

“This bill will give our DAs and law enforcement officers additional tools to reduce gang violence across our state,” said Stanley. “I look forward to working with the Tennessee Public Safety Coalition in moving this legislation forward.”

Illegal Immigration

On Wednesday, Sen. Tim Burchett (R-Knoxville) passed SB 193 which will target individuals who are trafficking illegal aliens into the state for a profit.

“A serious issue has arisen because a group known as ‘coyotes’ are taking advantage of people by requiring them to pay large sums of money, then packing them in a vehicle like cordwood, and them transporting them long distances,” said Burchett. “This practice is not safe for the people being transported, and it is not fair for the residents that are here legally.”

The bill prohibits the transportation of illegal aliens into the state for profit. A violation of the provision is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a $1000 fine that will go to the local agency responsible for assisting in the deportation of the illegal immigrant.

The bill originally passed the House on April 24th; however, the House must consider a Senate amendment, before the bill will go to the Governor.

Targeting Sexual Predators

SB 2048, sponsored by Sen. Jamie Woodson (R-Knoxville), unanimously passed the Senate on Monday night. The bill, which was co-sponsored by all members of the Senate, will protect school children from sexual predators. 

The bill will require employers who contract with schools or child care centers to conduct background checks on all of their employees who have potential contact with children. If any employee is found to be registered a sexual offender, he or she would be prohibited from working on school grounds or child care center property when children are present. 

The provisions of the bill will apply regardless of whether the employment was direct or through a subcontractor or subsidiary. 

The idea for the legislation came from Sandy Loy, President of Construction Plus, Inc., based in Knoxville.

“Mr. Loy has had a strong protection policy at Construction Plus since 2002,” continued Woodson. “When he approached me with the idea, I was honored to sponsor the bill.” 

The House companion bill is scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee on Wednesday, May 9th. The bill must pass the house, and the Governor must sign it before it becomes law.

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