Allan F. Ramsaur, TBA Executive Director
(800) 899-6993 or (615) 277-3200
aramsaur@tnbar.org
February 12, 2004
Workers’ Compensation, TennCare draw legislators’ focus
High-profile issues dominated action in the General Assembly this week, with most attention focused on the first meeting of the Joint Committee on Workers’ Compensation and the governor’s announcement that he’ll present a major address on TennCare next Tuesday.
Commissioners from the departments of Labor and Workforce Development, Economic and Community Development (ECD) and Commerce and Insurance all addressed the joint committee, with ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber and Insurance Commissioner Paula Flowers leading most of the discussion. The officials presented statistical data from two national research and ratings bodies showing how Tennessee compares with other states in overall costs associated with workers’ compensation.
Kisber stated that Tennessee was considered about average nationally but was near the top in costs when compared to neighboring Southeastern states. Preliminary examination of the data during the slide show presentation did not indicate that Tennessee’s costs appeared greatly in excess of neighboring states. The anecdotal stories told earlier of extraordinary costs differentials between Tennessee and other Southern states appear to need additional explanation beyond that presented by the three commissioners.
The committee is jointly chaired by Sen. Joe Haynes, D-Nashville, and Rep. Jere Hargrove, D-Cookville, and is made up of senators Ben Atchley, Tim Burchett, Bill Clabough, Ward Crutchfield, Roscoe Dixon, Rosalind Kurita and Bill Ketron; and representatives Rob Briley, Craig Fitzhugh, Randy Rinks, Charles Sargent, Steve McDaniel, Bob McKee and Ben West.
Big Shrimp enlarged
The legislature will convene in joint convention at 6 p.m. Tuesday to hear Gov. Bredesen make his recommendations to “fix” TennCare. While that means the address will bump up against the TBA’s popular Big Shrimp reception for legislators, sources close to the governor anticipate the address will likely be over in about 20 minutes, so legislators will still be able to attend the reception either before or after the speech. The TBA is extending the reception time so that it will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Tennessee Bar Center, 221 Fourth Ave., North, 2nd Floor, in Nashville. The address will be shown at the reception if it is broadcast.
TBA Executive Director Allan Ramsaur has ordered extra ice so the shrimp will remain large and wholesome until the end of the evening. The event is open to all TBA members, who are encouraged to use the event as a chance to meet and visit with legislators in a friendly, non-lobbying atmosphere.
Other activities of interest
There was no significant movement in TBA-backed legislation this week. TBA representatives have spent substantial time recently assisting members of the General Assembly with the legislative projects in areas as diverse as disclosure of consultant contracts, parenting plan forms, problems with the release of satisfied real estate liens and alleged abuses of living trusts. Also filling the work schedule was a close examination of the Tennessee Health Care Decisions Act, a review of legislation that attempts to reverse the initiative provides for the issuance of summons in response to citizen complaints and not arrest warrants, and the study of commercial law issues.
The TBA continues to grow as a resource for members hoping to produce the best legislation possible, thanks largely to the expertise coming from TBA sections and committees.
Keep up to date on legislation of interest
The TBA bill tracking service lets you read abstracts of bills, check their status in both houses, find out who is sponsoring them and link to full versions of the legislation.
TBA Watch List Monitor close to 300 bills and resolutions of interest to the Tennessee legal community.
TBA Action List Monitor legislation in which the TBA has an interest of record — bills the TBA initiated, bills on which the TBA has taken a position or bills on which the TBA has policy.
Questions, comments? Contact TBA Legislative Counsel Steve Cobb at SAC@wallerlaw.com or TBA Executive Director Allan F. Ramsaur at aramsaur@tnbar.org
