Boyd Signs On To Sponsor Key Republican-led Initiatives
This week, State Representative Clark Boyd (R-Lebanon) signed on as a sponsor of several critical Republican-led initiatives. They strengthen the state’s TennCare and SNAP programs by instituting work requirements for these programs.
House Bill 1551 directs the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration to file a waiver instituting reasonable work requirements for TennCare enrollees. The measure comes as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued new guidelines for states, allowing them to implement work requirements on citizens who receive these benefits.
Additionally, Representative Boyd signed on as a sponsor of House Bill 1822. This measure institutes reasonable work requirements for those who receive assistance through the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Representative Boyd is also sponsoring passage of five additional bills during his first legislative session in the House chamber.
Representative Boyd, House Republicans Cut Taxes On Automobiles For Tennessee’s Disabled Military Heroes
This week, Representative Boyd and House Republicans unanimously passed legislation aimed at reducing taxes on automobiles for Tennessee’s disabled veterans.
House Bill 15 — sponsored by Boyd — exempts a new or used vehicle that is sold, given, or donated to a disabled veteran or service member from the sales and use tax.
It is the latest in a series of Republican-led initiatives designed to support Tennessee veterans and military families. During the 2017 legislative session, House Republicans fought to reduce the amount of property tax owed by veterans, elderly, and disabled homeowners.
Additionally, Republican lawmakers supported several key pieces of legislation last year that helped veterans pursue their educational dreams without fear of financial struggle — including the Support, Training, and Renewing Opportunity for National Guardsman (STRONG) Act. The measure provides last dollar-scholarships to our state’s service members who meet eligibility requirements. House Bill 433 — also a Republican-led initiative — unanimously passed last year. It assists veterans by determining how their military training can count as college credit at Tennessee’s colleges and universities.
For more information about how House Republicans are advancing Tennessee’s conservative values and fighting for our military servicemen and women, please visit: https://tnhousegop.org/.
Legislation To Improve Quality Of Care For Tennesseans Battling Addiction Gains Support
Legislation designed to improve the quality of care for Tennesseans who are battling addiction gained support this week in Nashville.
As part of the ongoing efforts of House Republicans to address Tennessee’s opioid and drug crisis, House Bill 1929 — known as the Stopping Addiction & Fostering Excellence (SAFE) Act — ensures that patients who utilize recovery houses receive high-quality care that empowers them to end the cycle of addiction.
The SAFE Act enables providers at these facilities to focus their efforts on implementing more customized and targeted treatment plans for patients. Additionally, House Bill 1929 streamlines operational guidelines while strengthening partnerships between the facility and its local municipality.
Tennessee’s opioid epidemic claimed the lives of more than 1,600 Tennesseans in 2016 alone. Every day in our state, at least three people die from opioid-related overdoses. This is more than Tennessee’s daily number of traffic fatalities.
While the federal government has only just commenced conversation about the opioid epidemic, Tennessee leads the way in fighting the situation here at home. In addition to House Bill 1929, House leaders are also moving forward with other major pieces of opioid legislation to combat the state’s opioid problem head-on, including the Tennessee Together plan.
Tennessee Together is a multi-faceted plan comprised of legislation, $30 million in funds through Governor Haslam’s proposed 2018-2019 budget, and other executive actions to battle opioids through the three major components of prevention, treatment, and law enforcement. The plan incorporates recommendations made by Speaker Beth Harwell’s Ad Hoc Task Force on Opioid Abuse.
House Republicans Back Legislation Providing Tennesseans A Fresh Start Through Education
House Republicans this week introduced a measure aimed at giving Tennesseans a fresh start in life by utilizing the state’s available education opportunities.
House Bill 1780 permits an individual who has a Class E felony conviction to apply for a records expunction immediately after he or she earns a certificate or degree under the Tennessee Reconnect program.
Passed in 2017, the Tennessee Reconnect program offers all adults without a degree access to community college tuition-free and at absolutely no cost to taxpayers.
Currently, citizens who have paid their fines, court costs, and restitution are eligible to apply for a Class E felony records expunction after a five year waiting period. House Bill 1780 keeps current stipulations for Class E offenders in place but reduces the required wait time to apply for records expunction to as little as 12-18 months in some instances.
This reduction provides a fresh start for residents, decreases recidivism, and minimizes the use of taxpayer funds to cover incarceration costs.
According to the Tennessee Department of Correction, instances of recidivism have decreased by more than three percent statewide from 2010-2016. However, the state’s recent opioid crisis is leading to a larger number of drug-related arrests, as well as repeat offenders.
A survey conducted by the Vera Institute of Justice estimates that the state spent $723,680,760 on prison expenditures in 2015 alone.
While House Republicans have worked to reduce recidivism in Tennessee, citizens still have to bear the high expenses of incarceration. This new initiative not only saves taxpayer money but also encourages those who desire a fresh start to take advantage of the state’s many education opportunities so they can capitalize on a greater number of high-quality jobs currently available.
