CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Legislation addressing Tennessee's opioid crisis headlines Capitol Hill Week

The Herald-News - 3/3/2018

The pace quickened this week on Capitol Hill as the State Senate approved major legislation addressing Tennessee's opioid crisis.

Major legislation addressing Tennessee's opioid crisis overcame its first hurdle this week with passage in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 2258 is one of two proposals in Governor Bill Haslam's TN Together plan to combat opioid abuse. The legislation addresses the law enforcement and treatment components of the three-pronged plan, while the other component is prevention.

This bill revises various provisions of the law regarding the scheduling of controlled substances and their analogues and derivatives, including updated identifications of drugs categorized in Schedules I-V. The updated schedule of controlled substances would allow law enforcement to better track, monitor and penalize the use and unlawful distribution of dangerous and addictive drugs, including substances that mimic the effects of fentanyl, a drug that is up to 100 times more potent than morphine and is linked to an alarming number of overdose deaths.

The legislation provides incentives for offenders in correctional facilities to complete intensive substance use treatment program while incarcerated. An increasing number of offenders suffer from substance use disorders. These evidence-based programs are proven to reduce recidivism and improve lives while saving taxpayer dollars.

Each day in Tennessee, at least three people die from an opioid-related overdose, which is more than the number of daily traffic fatalities. Since 1999, the number of opioid-related overdose deaths nationwide, including prescription opioids and heroin, has quadrupled.

It is hoped that through this multifaceted approach, Tennessee can be successful in its continued fight against the opioid epidemic and reverse the addiction, overdose and illicit distribution trends that continue to plague the state and nation.

Senate approves legislation designed to spur development of broadband services in Tennessee's rural communities

Legislation designed to spur development of broadband services to Tennessee's rural and un-served communities passed the State Senate unanimously this week. The bill amends the Rural Electric Community Services Cooperative Act to compliment the changes that were made by the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act last year. That law set Tennessee on a responsible path to improve access to broadband through investment, deregulation, and education.

The improved connectivity is important for education and economic initiatives. It would also promote agriculture advancements and provide health care options like telemedicine, which are especially important to our rural communities.

Senate Bill 1646 authorizes electric cooperatives (co-ops) to access existing property, right-of-ways or easements to supply broadband Internet services. The purpose is to make it clear that co-ops can use the property and easements they currently have for electric service to provide broadband Internet infrastructure in those same rights-of-ways. The proposal also clarifies that if an electric co-op enters into an agreement with a third party to provide telecommunications or broadband, they could only contract with parties that are otherwise permitted by law to provide those services.

Before passage of the Broadband Accessibility Act, co-ops were restricted from providing retail broadband or cable video services. The act also called for $45 million over three years in grants and tax credits for service providers to assist in making broadband available to un-served homes and businesses. On Tuesday, Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe told members of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee that nine grants totaling $9.8 million have already been awarded as a result of the act, serving 5,200 locations in 13 counties. The act has also provided $109,000 in library grants to 52 libraries in Tennessee.

Go Build Tennessee - Legislation bolstering Tennessee's Go Build Tennessee Program, which encourages and promotes career opportunities in the construction industry, was approved by the full Senate this week. Senate Bill 1922 extends the program until 2024 and clarifies that funds diverted from the contractor's license for this purpose must be used solely for the implementation, administration and management of the non-profit program. The goal is to encourage and promote career opportunities in Tennessee's secondary schools, postsecondary schools, colleges of applied technology and community colleges due to the shortage of young people going into these high-demand jobs. The average age in the construction industry is 43. The Go Build Tennessee website features 109 in-state training programs of the top demanded occupations. These occupations include carpenters, welders, road builders, electricians, masons, equipment operators, plumbers, pipe fitters and more.