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Committee approves bill to add mutual-aid education for county EMAs
Summary
The Departments & Agencies committee advanced House Bill 17-53 after adding an amendment that makes mutual-aid provisions part of continuing education for all county Emergency Management Agencies, moving the measure to full state and local committee on an 8-0 vote.
The committee voted 8-0 to advance House Bill 17-53 after adding an amendment that requires county Emergency Management Agency (EMA) staff to include Tennessee's blanket mutual-aid provisions in continuing education. Chairman Howe said the bill "does not change law" but "simply adds an education component to existing law."
Howe told the committee the change responds to gaps revealed during a major disaster in East Tennessee, when some counties "did not know that we have blanket mutual aid" and may have needed help but lacked awareness of the mechanism. The amendment (drafting code 013674) was added and the bill was approved by voice vote with the clerk reporting "8 ayes and 0 nos."
The sponsor emphasized the bill's narrow scope: it adds required training rather than creating or altering mutual-aid authority. Committee members had no substantive questions before the vote. The measure will be sent to full state and local committee for further consideration.
