NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee released the special session proclamation and outlined the administration’s legislative and budgetary priorities that will be presented to the Tennessee General Assembly during the special session on public safety, summons 21st of August.
“As our nation faces increasing threats to public safety, Tennessee remains vigilant and takes continued action to protect communities while preserving the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. » said Governor Bill Lee. “In the months leading up to the special session on public safety, we listened to Tennesseans and worked with members of the General Assembly to identify thoughtful and practical measures to strengthen public safety across our state, including including measures to support law enforcement and combat mental health. , prevent violent crime and end human trafficking. I thank the General Assembly for its continued partnership and look forward to achieving meaningful results for Tennesseans.
Governor Lee will outline legislative and budgetary priorities during the special public safety session to keep Tennessee communities safe, support law enforcement, and address mental health, while preserving constitutional rights. In addition to making the following solutions in the administrative package, the governor will continue to work with members of the General Assembly on other legislation specified in the appeal.
1. Coding of EO 100 and implementation of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) report: Requires accurate, complete, and timely submission of records by clerks to the TBI within 72 hours and requires electronic submission of decisions and expungements to the TBI.
2. TennCare Mental Health Coverage Waiver: Directs TennCare to request a federal waiver to allow federal Medicaid matching funds to cover mental illness and substance use disorder services in mental illness facilities.
3. Address mental health workforce challenges: Budget initiatives that prioritize growth and retention opportunities for mental health professionals in the state
4. Reforms for mental health: Expands access to mental health treatment by eliminating certain collaborative practice requirements for advanced registered practice nurses with training in psychiatry
5. Strengthen the identification of people arrested for crimes: Provides for DNA collection at the time of arrest for all crimes
6. Report on human trafficking: Resolution directing TBI to report on the state of human trafficking in Tennessee
7. Promote secure storage: Eliminates taxes on gun safes and security devices, provides free gun locks, expands safe storage training in state-approved safety courses, and creates an announcement of interest public to promote safe storage.
To date, more than 20,000 Tennesseans have submitted public comments on strengthening public safety, and the form will remain open throughout the special session to ensure Tennesseans can continue to engage in the conversation.
The full proclamation of the special session can be viewed here.
