Residency bill passes House, headed to governor
The House unanimously passed the bill Thursday, a week after the Senate did the same.
The bill began early this year as an answer to criticism that state Sen. John Ford doesn’t have a home inside the district he represents and lists the address of his family’s funeral home on voting information.
The Memphis Democrat argued that the state Constitution allows candidates living in counties with multiple senate districts to run for office in any of the districts.
The bill’s House sponsor, Majority Leader Kim McMillan, D-Clarksville, said a business address shouldn’t be used, unless the person has “some evidence to show that you actually lived at your business for purposes of registering.”
The residency issue is among the controversy concerning Ford.
He’s also being investigated by the Senate Ethics Committee, various state agencies and a Memphis grand jury regarding his business dealings with TennCare, the state’s expanded Medicaid program.
On Wednesday, the state Registry of Election Finance fined Ford $10,000 for spending campaign money on his daughter’s wedding.
Ford plans to appeal, calling the finding “stupid.”
———
On the Net:
Read HB2245 /SB2215 at http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/
———
NASHVILLE (AP) — A bill that would prohibit teenagers with a learner permit or intermediate driver’s license from talking on a cell phone while driving passed the House on Thursday.
The legislation passed the Senate earlier in the week and is on its way to the governor to become law.
The measure does not apply to a vehicle that’s not in motion, emergency calls or a teenager talking to a parent or custodian. A violation will result in a Class C misdemeanor and a fine of $50.
Critics of the bill say the only way an officer could tell if a teen was talking to a guardian would be take the phone and check the last number called, which they believe is a violation of that person’s rights.
But the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Henri Brooks, D-Memphis, said she’s “not telling authorities how to enforce” the legislation, which she believes will “save lives.”
“It’s a good piece of legislation for our children,” Brooks said. “They are inexperienced drivers, and talking on the cell phone is a distraction.”
———
On the Net:
Read HB2054/SB0036 at http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/
———
NASHVILLE (AP) — Retailers could charge as much as $150 for a returned check under legislation that overwhelmingly passed the House on Thursday.
The bill originally would have increased the current charge of $20 to $30.
But it was amended to $25 if the check doesn’t exceed $50; $30 if it’s more than that but less than $300; and $40 if the amount is more than $300, or 5 percent of the check, which shouldn’t exceed a maximum of $150.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Robert McKee, R-Niota, said the maximum penalty is justifiable because retailers “go through extremes to collect money.” He said by the time retailers pay such costs as bank fees, certified mailings to the check writer, and collection costs, they’re already up to as much as $140.
Russell Palk, president of the Tennessee Retail Association, agrees.
“This is a bill that we obviously support because it covers the fees that retailers are having to charge,” Palk said.
However, Rep. Barbara Cooper voted against the bill because she said “sometimes things happen that are not intentional.”
“It may be just $5 or $10 short,” Cooper said. “That doesn’t mean the person is being dishonest.”
The legislation passed the Senate earlier this month without the amendment. The House version will now go back to that chamber for consideration.
———
On the Net:
Read HB1976/SB2142 at http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/
———
NASHVILLE (AP) — State Rep. Joe Towns Jr., D-Memphis, was fined a total of $8,000 by the state Registry of Election Finance for filing campaign contribution and spending reports late.
The election finance board reduced a $10,000 fine levied last fall to $5,000 on Thursday, but added a $3,000 fine for another late report. Towns asked for the reduction of the higher penalty and it was granted because he has since filed the report.
Board member George Harding of Lebanon said Towns won’t be able to run for re-election until he pays the fines.
Since taking office in 1995 the registry has fined Towns 10 times for a total of $4,300. Those earlier fines ranged from $25 to $2,000.
———
———
Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com