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Workers' Compensation is on the Chopping Block!

On Tuesday afternoon, the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee is scheduled to take up SB 721 (Green)/HB 997 (Durham), which would enact the "Tennessee Employee Injury Benefit Alternative." This bill would let employers opt out of Workers' Compensation. As we noted last week, please contact your state representative or senator, and ask them to vote "no" on this very BAD bill! The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee will meet on Tuesday, March 10th at 1:30 p.m. in LP 12. If you would like to join our lobbyists in this committee meeting, please contact A.J. Starling or Jerry Winters at (615) 269-7111. We need to make sure that Labor's voice is heard! 

This same committee with also take up  SB 475 (Bell)/HB 757(Holt)
 on Tuesday afternoon. Under this BAD piece of legislation, a franchisee would not have to follow directives given by corporate headquarters. This bill could negatively impact things like the Fight for $15 and have a crippling effect on some of the lowest-paid workers. SB 745/HB 757 is moving quickly in the House, so once again, please contact your state representative or senator and ask them to vote "no" on this bill!

What's on our Radar? 

Below you'll find a short list of some of the other "target" bills that we'll be watching this week. There are many others, but these are the ones that we feel are the most important. To help keep everything organized, we've broken the bills down by the day (Tuesday or Wednesday) on which they'll be heard. By clicking on the bill number ( which will be highlighted like this), you'll be able to access the entire piece of legislation, its current status, and much more. Once again, please contact our office if you have any questions or need more information. 


Tuesday, March 10th

House Education Administration & Planning Committee, 
10:30 a.m., LP 29
-House Bill 158 (SB 183): This bill would make the "Little Hatch Act" applicable to teachers.  
T his bill will also be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. in LP 12.

Senate State & Local Government Committee, 10:30 a.m., LP 12
-Senate Bill 950 (HB 478): This bill would delete the provision limiting total sick time that can be used for maternity and paternity leave to 30 days if both parents are state employees.


Wednesday, March 11th

House Business & Utilities Committee, 3:00 p.m., LP 16
- House Bill 226 (SB 330): This bill would make the Prevailing Wage Act only applicable to state highway construction projects. 

House Consumer & Human Resources Subcommittee, 
3:00 p.m., LP 29
- House Bill 974 (SB 1159): This bill would enact the "Tennessee Pregnant Workers Fairness Act."

- House Bill 552 (SB 662): This bill would require employers to allow employees with school-age children time to participate in school activities.

Contact:
Alyssa Hansen, Communications Director
1901 Lindell Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203  |  615.269.7111