Massey-sponsored legislation protecting children and securing the border goes into effect July 1
As Tennessee moves into the new fiscal year on July 1, many Tennessee laws passed by the General Assembly will go into effect. State Senator Becky Duncan Massey (R-Knoxville) passed several pieces of legislation to help protect children, support families and strengthen our immigration laws.
“As we embrace the new fiscal year, I am proud that our efforts in the General Assembly have come to fruition,” said Massey. “These new laws are a testament to our commitment to safeguarding children, supporting families, and bolstering our immigration policies, ensuring a brighter future for all Tennesseans.”
On July 1, the laws that will go into effect sponsored and co-sponsored by Massey include:
* Jillian’s Law requires criminal defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial to be committed to an appropriate treatment facility. The law also requires individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial to be entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System which serves as a database of people prohibited from buying or owning firearms.
* Ben Kredich Act which allows a first responder administering an opioid antagonist such as Narcan to an individual experiencing a drug overdose to provide information on the risk of driving within 24 hours. The law clarifies that patients who have been treated for a drug overdose with Narcan could still be impaired and charged with driving under the influence, as drugs would still be present in their system.
* The Family Rights and Responsibilities Act explicitly outlines the twelve fundamental rights of parents. These rights include the responsibility to make education, healthcare, moral and religious decisions for their child. The law protects children from being indoctrinated by ideologies contrary to the values taught by their parents.
* Increasing availability of School Resource Officers (SROs) by allowing a retired law enforcement officer to be reemployed as a full-time SRO at a Tennessee public school without loss or suspension of the officer’s retirement benefits. The retired law enforcement officer must be a member of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) or local retirement fund to be eligible for this new law.
* Warrantless drone use by law enforcement can still be conducted for searches and evidence collection in cases of natural disaster emergencies, criminal investigations and for certain security purposes without needing court approval. This law makes the provision for warrantless use of drones permanent.
