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Rep. Jim Hackworth - House District 33
IMMEDIATE RELEASE February
25, 2010
HOUSE PASSES BILL TO HELP
FAMILIES
PROTECT LOVED ONES
Legislation allows relatives to obtain court
ordered protection
for abused family members
NASHVILLE (Feb. 25) – On
Monday, the Tennessee House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill
that gives family members the ability to get a court order to intercede
when an adult relative is subject to abuse, neglect or exploitation.
“For too long individuals
in Tennessee who had family members in jeopardy were not able to ask the
court to intervene,” said State Representative Jim Hackworth.
“Thanks to this new legislation, sons and daughters with elderly parents
will be able to gain a court order of protection for their loved ones
from the abusers.”
Under present law, if a
person knowingly abuses, neglects or exploits any adult who is unable to
take care of themselves on their own, they can be charged with a Class E
felony. Sponsored by Rep. Jim Hackworth (D-Clinton) and
Sen. Andy Berke (D-Chattanooga), House Bill 2778 authorizes any
relative having personal knowledge that an adult has been subject to
these types of offenses, or believes could be in jeopardy of being
subjected to these crimes, can seek relief for the family member by
filing a sworn petition to any court with jurisdiction.
“We have to give families
the ability to protect their most vulnerable members, said Hackworth.
“Our parents protected us when we were children, and now we must do all
that we can to protect them during their golden years.”
Having passed the House
96-0, HB2778 now waits on passage in the Senate where it is expected to
be taken up by the Senate Judiciary Committee later this month. A
description of the bill along with the calendar of its progress can be
found online by going to
www.capitol.tn.gov and typing in HB2778 in the FIND LEGISLATION
search box at the bottom.
INTERLOCKING IGNITIONS
FOR DUI OFFENDERS BILL SET
TO BE HEARD IN HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Next week the House
Judiciary Committee will take up important legislation aimed at keeping
drunk drivers off the road and stuck in their cars.
“It is our job to make sure
we’re doing everything we can to keep those people who choose to break
the law off the streets and keep the innocent out of harm’s way,” said
Hackworth. “If we have the technology to keep repeat drunk drivers cars
from starting and stop them from hurting others then we need to use it.”
House Bill 2917 is a
bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Henry Fincher (D-Cookeville)
that is supported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) and is one
of the toughest interlock bills in the nation. Under the bill, any
person in Tennessee convicted of a DUI would be required to have an
interlock for at least one year on their car. The penalty would be
extended longer for multiple offenders. Those offenders who drive
without the device or who tamper with the interlock could face a minimum
of two days in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Also proposed within the
legislation is the creation of the Interlock Assistance Fund that would
be paid by convicted drunk drivers and the interlock companies to fund
interlock devices for those indigent defendants who could not afford the
device on their own. That would mean an additional $2 million
annually would be raised to combat drunk driving as the bill is
currently amended.
“There continues to be too
many families in Tennessee that have to celebrate birthdays,
anniversaries and special occasions without their loved ones by their
side because of drunk drivers,” said Hackworth. “These interlock
controls could go a long way toward curbing DUI deaths in Tennessee and
I believe we must step up to make our roads safe for drivers who follow
the law.”
The legislation is
scheduled to be heard by the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, March 2, at
3:30 p.m. CST. The committee can be followed online when in session at
www.capitol.tn.gov by clicking
on VIDEOS.
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