Monday, February 17, 2020

Faison legislative wrap
In his weekly legislative wrapup, Eleventh District Representative Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby says a measure enhancing penalties against sexual offenders is gaining momentum in the House. Members of the House Judiciary Committee have approved a bill, which adds an aggravating factor in cases where individuals conceal narcotics or other controlled substances into a person’s food or beverage with the intent to assault them later. Penalties in these instances would now be considered a Class A felony, punishable by 15 to 60 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. Members of the House Departments & Agencies Subcommittee on Tuesday approved a resolution affirming the General Assembly’s authority as a separate and independent branch of state government. The resolution comes on the heels of an announcement in December declaring Tennessee would opt into President Trump’s Executive Order allowing the resettlement of additional refugees despite concerns over costs and safety. House members also participated in the “Spend A Day in My Wheels” Challenge. The event challenged lawmakers to go about their normal daily activities using a wheelchair. It was aimed at creating awareness regarding the difficulties people with mobility devices face on a daily basis with the goal of making the world more inclusive for everyone. It was the idea of 14-year-old Alex Johnson, an eighth-grader in Lebanon who approached the General Assembly about hosting this event. Johnson has a rare skeletal disorder which leaves him dependent nn a wheelchair. He came up with the idea for his “Spend a Day in My Wheels” challenge in 5th grade as a way of helping his able-bodied classmates experience the world from his perspective.


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