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Senate Health and Welfare: committee approves multiple bills and sends them to calendar or finance
Summary
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approved a slate of bills and resolutions in a single hearing and sent most measures to the legislative calendar or to finance for fiscal review.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee considered and approved a series of bills during the hearing. Several measures were passed by roll call and either sent to the legislative calendar or to finance, depending on further fiscal considerations.
Votes at a glance (committee action and disposition):
- Senate Joint Resolution 16 (SJR 16) — resolution encouraging donation of feminine-hygiene products to schools. Approved by roll call (9 ayes). Sent to calendar.
- Senate Bill 789 — modernizes licensing terminology and examination and creates associate licensing language for marriage and family therapists (amendments adopted). Approved by roll call (9 ayes). Sent to calendar.
- Senate Bill 606 — (medical records fee; see separate article for details). Amendment that makes the bill adopted; bill approved by roll call (9 ayes). Sent to calendar.
- Senate Bill 931 (as amended to drafting code 5874) — establishes a permit and labeling regime for cultured protein sold in Tennessee, including a $1,000 annual manufacturer permit and a $2,000 penalty for misbranding; amendment adopted. Approved by roll call (9 ayes). Sent to calendar.
- Senate Bill 871 — directs a Tennessee advisory body to study homelessness and report back; testimony was heard from a private citizen during the hearing. Approved by roll call (9 ayes). Sent to calendar.
- Senate Bill 267 — clarifies licensure for Tennessee collection stations operated by Tennessee medical laboratories (amendment rewrote the bill). Approved by roll call (9 ayes). Sent to calendar.
- Senate Bill 321 — continues an advisory task force to study direct-support staff pay and make recommendations to agencies; approved by roll call (9 ayes). Sent to calendar.
- Senate Bill 1390 — authorizes one additional PACE program in West or Middle Tennessee and an expansion in Hamilton County; referred to finance (committee approved, 9 ayes).
- Senate Bill 644 — allows expanded access to practical-nursing curricula through dual enrollment starting in 10th grade (amendment adopted). Approved by roll call (9 ayes). Sent to calendar.
- Senate Bill 654 — establishes a family-caregiver grant pilot (Caring for Caregivers Act) and was referred to finance (committee approved, 9 ayes).
- Senate Bill 554 — directs the Department of Health to compile information on physician supply and retention and report to the Legislature; approved by roll call (9 ayes). Sent to calendar.
Most roll-call votes recorded the same nine committee members voting yes: Hale, Harshbarger, Hensley, Jackson, Massey, Reeves, Watson, Yarbrough and Chairman Crowe. Where a bill carried a fiscal note or asked for new authorization (for example SB1390 and SB654), the committee forwarded it to the finance committee for further review.
