The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, and it was a very successful year. We have taken measures for Tennessee to be a better place to live, work and to raise a family. I will go over some of the laws passed this session.

Supporting firefighters suffering from PTSD - The Senate unanimously approved a new law that seeks to reduce stigma and provide support for firefighters following a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis. The James ‘Dustin’ Samples Act allows a firefighter who has been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of his or her service to receive resources through their workers’ compensation benefits plan. The law establishes a grant program to mitigate the cost to an employer providing worker’s compensation for firefighters diagnosed with PTSD. In order to qualify for the grant, employers must provide mental health awareness training as part of their continuing education program. The law is named in honor of Captain James ‘Dustin’ Samples of the Cleveland Fire Department, who tragically committed suicide in 2020 after a years-long struggle with PTSD.

Police Advisory Review Committee - A new law imposes statewide standards on police review boards to ensure a fair review of citizens’ complaints while protecting individual rights of local law enforcement officers and allowing law enforcement to conduct fair and accurate investigations of crimes. The law authorizes municipal governing bodies to create a police advisory review committee upon adoption of an ordinance by a two-thirds vote. The committee will make recommendations concerning citizen complaints to the head of law enforcement. The committees will consist of seven members appointed by the mayor with approval by the governing body.

Police review boards, such as community oversight boards, can enhance transparency and accountability of police departments, but at times these boards have hindered rather than enhanced investigations.

Expanding training compensation for EMS personnel - A new law compensates emergency medical services personnel for completing trainings required by law. It gives an $800 supplement for emergency medical services personnel for completing a 40-hour training.

Improving the hiring process for out of state law enforcement officers - A new law will streamline the hiring process for out-of-state law enforcement officers seeking employment in Tennessee. It provides flexibility to the Tennessee Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Commission in determining if an out-of-state officer’s standards of certification meet Tennessee’s standards. The law adds practical experience and education of an applicant certified in another state to the criteria evaluated by the POST Commission to determine if the training received in another state is comparable to the training programs in Tennessee. The law also prohibits the POST Commission from certifying a person who has been decertified in another state due to criminal or other misconduct.

Increasing background checks for professional bail agents - A new law requires professional bail agents and bounty hunters to have an annual criminal history background check from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The bill requires agents and bounty hunters to take an annual education class, and requires a criminal background check prior to taking the class.

Defining qualifying experience for parole officers - In order to become a parole officer, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or at least four years of qualifying professional experience. This new law clarifies that law enforcement experience is sufficient to the requirement, thus allowing law enforcement personnel to become parole officers if they so choose.

Ensuring deputy jailers can choose where they live - This law prohibits local governments from applying residency restrictions to jailers or correctional officers employed by local governments. It also ensures those occupations have the freedom to choose where they live, building off of a similar bill the General Assembly passed last year that pertains to law enforcement officers.

Contact Senator Hensley at

425 5th Avenue North, Suite 746

Nashville TN 37243

615-741-3100

Toll Free 1-800-449-8366

ext. 13100

Fax 615-253-0231

855 Summertown Highway

Hohenwald TN 38462

Phone 931-796-2018

Cell Phone 931-212-8823

E-mail:

[email protected]