NASHVILLE, TN. (WLAF)- As 2022 begins, so do a number of new laws. The laws range from chiropractic benefits to student athlete compensation.

HB0016 The “Teacher’s Discipline Act,”: establishes requirements and procedures for teachers to discipline students in the teachers’ classrooms, including relocation of a student. Once the disruptive student is disciplined, principals can use their discretion to send them back into the classroom or permanently remove the child.

HB0100 Guardians and Conservators: requires that petitions for appointment of a conservator include results of searches of the proposed conservator in the department of health’s registry of persons who have abused, neglected, or misappropriated the property of vulnerable persons and the national sex offender registry.

HB0386 Workers Compensation: Transfers administration of construction service provider registration from the secretary of state to the bureau of workers’ compensation

HB0419 TennCare: Adds chiropractic services performed by a person authorized to engage in the practice of chiropractic to the list of healthcare services that may be included as covered by TennCare medical assistance.

HB0752 Scholarships and Financial Aid: Clarifies that the dual enrollment program will award the in-state tuition and mandatory fees cost up to a maximum amount for the first four courses taken and make other related changes. The legislation increases the number of dual enrollment courses to help high school students earn college credits paid for by the state from two to four. 

HB0785 Probation and Parole: The Reentry Success Act of 2021 (Public Chapter 410) provides compensation to Tennessee counties who provide evidence-based programming for inmates housed in county jails. Evidence-based programming is defined as a program shown by scientific research to effectively reduce recidivism rates and increase an offender’s likelihood of success following release from incarceration, including programs focused on education, vocational training, mental health, substance abuse rehabilitation, or building healthy relationships.

HB0240 Jails, Local Lock-ups: Authorizes counties to develop and operate transition centers pursuant to interlocal agreements; authorizes a transition center to partner with a nonprofit organization that provides programming designed to reduce recidivism.

HB0870 Victims’ Right: Revises provisions governing restitution to the victim; extends, from one year to two years, the time within which a victim of a crime may file a claim with the criminal injuries compensation fund. Outlines an order of priority for funds paid into court for any criminal case with priority to ensure the victim of a crime is paid restitution first. The measure also extends the amount of time a victim has to apply for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund from one to two years.

HB1351 Sports: Authorizes an intercollegiate athlete at a four-year public or private institution of higher education located in this state, other than an institution of higher education governed by the board of regents of the state university and community college system, to earn compensation for the use of the athlete’s name, image, or likeness under certain conditions.

SB0216 Barbers and/or Cosmetologists: requires applicants for a technician certificate of registration, master barber certificate of registration, barber instructor certificate of registration, cosmetologist license, manicuring license, cosmetology instructor license, aesthetician license, or natural hair styling license to obtain up to one hour of online or in-person training by a nonprofit on domestic violence.

SB0588 Gaming: As enacted, transfers all powers and duties regarding the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act to the sports wagering advisory council.

SB0784 Driver Licenses:  As enacted, requires that a Class H or hardship license issued to a minor holding a Class P license or instructional permit expires on the date the Class P license or instructional permit expires.

SB1315 Election Laws: enacts the “Tennessee Election Integrity Act,” which requires that absentee ballots, other than ballots authorized by state or federal law to be delivered electronically to qualified voters who are entitled to vote by absentee ballot, include a watermark approved by the coordinator of elections; requires a counting board official to verify that the absentee ballots contain the watermark and reject any ballot that does not bear the watermark.

HB1178 Election Laws: Revises provisions governing convenient voting centers. Prohibits the coordinator of elections from approving convenient voting centers for any county election commission that has not used at least one early satellite voting location throughout an early voting period in the most recent regular November election, Extends authorization for counties that have an approved convenience voting pilot project plan to establish convenient voting centers within the county for federal, state, and local elections held in 2022. Present law only provided such authorization through 2020. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED -01/03/2022- 6AM)