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Senate Commerce and Labor committee advances bill to codify unemployment waivers, clarify TEMA authority
Summary
The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee voted 9-0 to move Senate Bill 6004 to State and Local. The bill would allow the labor commissioner to waive certain unemployment requirements during declared emergencies and clarifies Tennessee Emergency Management Agency authority to assist local governments with disaster recovery on public property.
The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee voted unanimously to send Senate Bill 6004 to the State and Local Committee after a brief floor discussion and a 9-0 voice vote.
Sen. Johnson, speaking as sponsor, told the committee the bill would "codify the commissioner's discretion to waive certain unemployment requirements during states of emergency," a practice currently implemented by executive order in recent disasters such as flooding in Upper East Tennessee. He said the measure also contains a technical clarification that the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has legal authority to assist local governments with disaster recovery on public property when requested.
The bill, Johnson said, would shift those waivers from ad hoc executive orders into statute-level authority for the labor commissioner during declared emergencies. "This is done commonly," he said, citing recent flooding in Upper East Tennessee where businesses were "wiped out" and jobs were scarce in affected areas.
Sen. Sutherland asked whether TEMA's clarified authority would apply to county property as well as state property and whether the change affected private property. Johnson and other speakers answered that the provision applies to local political subdivisions — counties and cities — when they request TEMA assistance; it does not extend authority to act on private property. Johnson said the change does not affect the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "That that's correct. It would have no impact on FEMA," he said.
There were no amendments offered. Sen. Johnson moved passage and Sen. Watson seconded. The clerk recorded nine ayes and no no votes; Chairman Bailey announced the bill "moves to State and Local."
The committee completed its calendar and adjourned after the vote.
Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 6004 — motion to pass moved by Sen. Johnson; seconded by Sen. Watson; vote 9-0; outcome: approved by committee and referred to State and Local.
