TTPC

This week, one of the two major bills that the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition has proposed this year will be before a House Subcommittee. This Wednesday, April 22, the House Criminal Practice Subcommittee will take up HB0335 by Jeanne Richardson (D-Memphis). This bill would add “gender identity or expression” to Tennessee’s hate crimes sentencing enhancement statute.

At the present time, eleven states, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawai’i, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, along with the District of Columbia, have hate crimes laws covering people based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Last week, the Seattle Times reported that the Washington State House of Represenatives passed similar legislation by a vote of 68 to 30. The Washington State Senate approved the measure last month, and Governor Christine Gregoire is expected to sign it into law.

It is time for Tennessee to join these states.

Please contact the members of the House Criminal Practice Subcommittee, and ask them to vote YES on HB0335:
Eric Watson (R-Cleveland), Chair, rep.eric.watson@capitol.tn.gov
Janis Sontany (D-Nashville), Vice-Chair, rep.janis.sontany@capitol.tn.gov
Eddie Bass (D-Prospect), rep.eddie.bass@capitol.tn.gov
Karen Camper (D-Memphis), rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov
Chad Faulkner (R-Luttrell), rep.chad.faulkner@capitol.tn.gov
Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma), rep.judd.matheny@capitol.tn.gov

The House Criminal Practice Subcommittee meets on Wednesday, April 22, at 12 Noon, in Legislative Plaza, Room 31.
We are also pleased to announce that two more legislators have joined Rep. Richardson by signing on as co-sponsors to this vital piece of legislation. We thank:

Rep. Brenda Gilmore (D-Nashville, District 54 — Part of Davidson County)

and Rep. Larry Turner (D-Memphis, District 85 — Part of Shelby County).

Please take a minute to thank both of them for their support at rep.brenda.gilmore@capitol.tn.gov and rep.larry.turner@capitol.tn.gov.

Other major bills of interest to TTPC this week are:

HB 0451 by *Dunn
Requires, rather than encourages, school districts to include certain criteria in policies prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying. The Senate companion bill has already passed, 33 to 0.
House Calendar Committee
Tuesday, April 21, 8:00 am
Legislative Plaza, Room 16
TTPC Supports this bill

*SB 1934 by *Burchett
Opposes Tennessee’s compliance with the Federal REAL ID Act of 2005
Senate Transportation Committee
Tuesday, April 14, 10:00 am
Legislative Plaza, Room 12.
TTPC Supports this bill

HB 1426 by *Niceley, companion bill to SB1934
Opposes Tennessee’s compliance with the Federal REAL ID Act of 2005
House Public Safety Subcommittee
Tuesday, April 21, 3:45 pm
Legislative Plaza, Room 16.
TTPC Supports this bill

HB 0639 by *Maggart, Faulkner, Evans, Weaver
New requirements for Voter ID’s in Tennessee
House Elections Subcommittee
Wednesday, April 22, 10:00 am
Legislative Plaza, Room 31
TTPC Opposes this bill

A similar bill, HB1838 by Todd, was defeated in this same subcommitteee last week.
Other bills of interest that were rolled from last week were:
SB 1250, by Dewayne Bunch,
Ban on Teaching Sexual Diversity in Schools
Senate Education Committee
Rolled until April 28, 2009
TTPC Opposes this bill.

HB 0776 by Mike Turner
Pay Equity in the Workplace
Deferred until January 2010
TTPC Supports this bill