One smoking bill finally escapes committee

The original bill by Rep. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, mandated that no smoking be allowed in dorms. But the committee voted to reconsider action on the bill, and Hensley amended the legislation to allow schools to set their own policies.

“The way it passed (Tuesday) allows this to be permissive,” Hensley said. “Last week, many of the members wanted the dorms to be nonsmoking, but they didn’t really want us to be mandating to the universities what they had to do.”

Hensley said he sponsored the legislation because of complaints about secondhand smoke from students with allergies and other respiratory ailments.

The original bill has passed in the Senate, but Hensley said if the amended version passes on the House floor, a conference committee will be called to work out a compromise.

Another bill sponsored by Hensley that would raise the cigarette tax from 20 to 60 cents was withdrawn because he didn’t think he’d have enough votes for passage. The bill failed in the Senate Finance Committee last month.

The Agriculture Committee gets to consider — and usually opposes — anti-smoking measures because they can affect the state’s tobacco farmers.

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On the Net:

Read HB1791/SB0757 at http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/

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Bill sets up fund for Imagination Library

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The House Education K-12 Subcommittee on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation that sets up a fund to promote the governor’s Imagination Library initiative.

Gov. Phil Bredesen has included $2 million in his budget to help spread the program in Tennessee. Children 5 years old or younger who are registered in the program get a book a month at no cost to their family.

Rep. John Hood, D-Murfreesboro and one of the bill’s sponsors, said the legislation “sets up a fund to distribute the money and solicit private money” by partnering with a nonprofit organization.

So far, 46 of 95 Tennessee counties are participating in the program. Bredesen has said he wants to have all counties involved by the end of the year.

The governor got the model for his program from country singer Dolly Parton, who started the Imagination Library several years ago in her native Sevier County. It has since spread to communities in 39 states.

Bredesen said Nashville is the largest community in the nation to adopt the program.

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On the Net:

Read HB2288/SB2275 at http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/

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Bill allows public to decide schools director

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Elected school superintendents could return to Tennessee after the House Education K-12 Subcommittee on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed legislation that could allow voters to fill the position.

Under current law, the director of schools is appointed. The bill sponsored by Rep. Leslie Winningham, D-Huntsville, would require a two-thirds vote by a county commission to authorize a public referendum.

“Right now the people have no choice in how it’s done,” Winningham said. “This gives them the opportunity.”

He said the bill would require an election to be held at the regular August election on the same basis as for other county officials.

There have been regular attempts in the Legislature to change the law since lawmakers overhauled the state’s public education system in 1992 and required all superintendents to be appointed by elected school boards.

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On the Net:

Read HB1849/SB0872 at http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/

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Committee gives OK to Country Ham Day

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Members of the Senate State and Local Government Committee unanimously approved Tuesday a resolution to designate Oct. 1 “Country Ham Day” in Tennessee.

State Sen. Jim Bryson, R-Franklin, wrote the resolution which celebrates “the salty succulence of country ham and its prominent role in Southern heritage.”

Committee chairman Sen. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, cut off debate and called for a vote “before this goes any further,” after members started hamming it up with porcine puns.

“Thank you for your vital legislation,” said Sen. Joe Haynes, D-Nashville.

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On the Net:

Read SJR0177 at http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/