Online voter registration inches closer
NASHVILLE — Legislation providing for the establishment of an online voter registration system for Tennesseans was unanimously approved by members of the Senate State and Local Government Committee last week.
Under Senate Bill 1626 / House Bill 1742, sponsored by Senate State and Local Government Committee Chairman Ken Yager (R-Kingston), voters with an unexpired driver’s license or personal identification card issued by the Department of Safety will be able to go to an official state website where they will be able to register to vote online.
The voter registration application would be reviewed electronically. If the request is confirmed to be valid, the new registration would be added to the state’s voter registration list after being reviewed by the respective county election commission office. The validation step is done by comparing the information on the online registration form against the information provided by the same individual when he or she received a driver’s license or their state-issued identification card.
The signature already on record with the state would become the signature on record for voting.
Zika hearing set for Feb. 24
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) have announced that the Senate committee overseeing public health policy will hold a hearing on the Zika virus at 10 a.m. Feb. 24. The location has not been announced.
Alexander commented, “Americans have many questions about the Zika virus, as we have watched news of its spread through Central and South Amer-ica, as well as recent reports of several cases in the U.S. Our Feb. 24 hearing will help Congress and the public gain a better understanding of the virus as well as carefully assess what we can do to prevent its spread in South and Central America and how much of a concern this will be here in the United States.”
Bills to aid vets, service members make progress
Three legislative measures that would help military service members and veterans advanced in Senate Committees last week. These include a resolution sponsored by Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville), asking Congress and President Obama to review and revise the law and policy regarding the carrying of firearms by military service members on military installations or facilities.
He said the revisions are needed so personnel can help prevent and more readily defend themselves from terrorist attacks.
Having met the approval of the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, the resolution now goes to the Senate floor for final approval.
Legislation was approved in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee last week to protect National Guard reservists from losing their jobs in connection with their service. State law protects residents who take a leave of absence in accordance with orders from the Tennessee Army and Air National Guard; however, the protections don’t extend to reservists who work here but serve in another state’s reserves. Senate Bill 1444 extends the protection to members of the Army or Air National Guard of any other state. This bill now moves to the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee for consideration of its fiscal impact.
The Senate Education Committee voted to give in-state tuition and fees to dependent children of military parents if the parent died as the result of a targeted attack in Tennessee, regardless of their place of residency. Senate Bill 1431 would affect the children of the five military service members who perished in the Chattanooga terrorist attack.
Carjackers may serve more under new proposal
NASHVILLE — A proposal by State Senator Brian Kelsey (R-German-town) increasing sentences for carjacking was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Commit-tee on Feb. 2.
The measure, which was attached to Senate Bill 1572 through an amendment, requires any person convicted of carjacking to serve 75 percent of the sentence imposed by the court, less any earned and retained sentence credits. The sentence credits, however, may not reduce the time served below 60 percent.
Under current law, offenders convicted of carjacking can serve as little as 30 percent of their sentence before being released on parole.
