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Bill to eliminate $10 TBI background-check fee is rolled; agency warns of funding and service impacts
Summary
House Bill 1287, which would remove the $10 fee for state background checks, was discussed at length and rolled by the Civil Justice Subcommittee after TBI officials warned the change would undermine TICS funding and service capacity.
House Bill 1287, which would eliminate the state’s $10 fee associated with background checks conducted through the Tennessee Instant Check System (TICS), was discussed at length and ultimately rolled by the subcommittee for further work.
Representative Hill described the bill as a proposal to make background checks free to increase public awareness and use, particularly for person-to-person sales. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) strongly opposed the change. Patrick Powell, policy director at the TBI, told the committee the $10 fee has funded TICS operations since 1998 and pays for staff, maintenance, system improvements and training. "If it isn't broke, please don't try to fix it," Powell said, warning that eliminating the fee would reduce the TBI's ability to be nimble and responsive and could force longer response times.
Deputy counsel Rachel Russell told the committee the statute currently authorizes a $10 fee billed to dealers and that eliminating it would not prevent dealers from charging purchasers; dealers are private businesses that may still set fees for their services. TBI officials also said the fee funds a reserve that the bureau uses to fix system issues and to provide outreach and training — functions they said would be diminished if the fee were removed.
Committee members discussed alternatives. Representative Todd suggested redirecting reserve funds to subsidize checks; Representative Hill said sponsors are open to compromises such as a sunset provision and additional discussions with the TBI. With open questions about funding, the subcommittee voted to roll House Bill 1287 to the full committee calendar for further work rather than advancing it.
Outcome: House Bill 1287 — motion: roll to final calendar / further discussion; outcome: rolled (no final passage). TBI requested preservation of the fee to maintain current operations; sponsors said they are open to compromise.
