The Medical Malpractice Study Committee of the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee met today to consider SB507 by Sen. Jack Johnson (HB546 by Rep. Glen Casada), which moves medical malpractice claims out of the court system into a Patients’ Compensation System, relieves physicians of personal malpractice liability, and sets up an independent medical review panel of physicians and medical experts to review plaintiffs' claims. Presenting the legislation were representatives of the group Patients For Fair Compensation. Those in opposition and raising concerns included the Tennessee Medical Association and State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company. Legislators attending today’s meeting included Sen. Jack Johnson, Sen. Mark Green, Sen. Reginald Tate, Rep. Glen Casada, Rep. Dennis Powers, Rep. Joe Pitts, Rep. David Shepard and Rep. Kelly Keisling. Check TBAImpact for updates on this issue.

A bill recently pre-filed for consideration in the 2016 legislative session would require Tennesseans over the age of 76 to take a vision test prior to renewal of their driver’s licenses, The Knoxville News Sentinel reports. The bill, which has failed in various forms in past legislative sessions, would allow applicants the option to submit a written statement from an ophthalmologist or optometrist in lieu of going through a Department of Safety test.

In a letter issued last week to state lawmakers, Gov. Bill Haslam revealed, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel, the Department of Health recently conducted unannounced inspections of the state’s four largest abortion providers to ensure they are in compliance with all laws and regulations. It is against Tennessee law to sell fetal tissues, but there are no laws in place requiring abortion providers to report on the disposal methods. In the letter, Haslam wrote that he intends to “prevent the abhorrent activities discussed in the Planned Parenthood videos from occurring in Tennessee.” The governor also wrote he would be proposing legislation in January "to strengthen accountability and transparency for surgery centers performing abortions."

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports State House and Senate committees will hold a joint hearing next month on refugee resettlement in Tennessee. "The attack in Paris serves as another wake-up call that ISIS is serious about embedding the enemy in our communities. This comes on the heels of the terrorist attack in our state this summer. While we want to act humanely in our efforts to help those who legitimately need assistance, we owe it to our citizens to place their safety as our highest priority," Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, said.

Tennessee Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, plans to submit a bill in January that would require each Tennessee municipality to report its DUI arrests and convictions to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), WMCActionNews5 reports. According to Norris, 18 of Tennessee’s 95 counties do not report their DUI arrests or cases to NCIC. Under a second bill to be proposed by Rep. Mark White, R-East Memphis, Tennessee judges would have the authority to order ignition locks and ankle bracelets for first-time DUI offenders as conditions of their bonds.

House GOP Caucus Chairman Glen Casada, R-Franklin, wants to activate the Tennessee National Guard to round up any Syrian refugees who have recently settled in the state and block any other additional Syrians from entering Tennessee, The Tennessean reports. "I’m not worried about what a bureaucrat in D.C. or an unelected judge thinks. ... We need to gather (Syrian refugees) up and politely take them back to the ICE center and say, 'They’re not coming to Tennessee, they’re yours’,” Casada said. Some lawmakers are seeking a special legislative session to look at the issue. Read more on Tennessee lawmakers and the resettlement debate. 

Tennessee Senate Caucus Chair Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, is considering a bill to find out the cost of refugee resettlement in Tennessee, WATE reports. Ketron would look at the cost of teachers for immigrants who do not speak English and state benefits for those eligible such as TennCare. Meanwhile, Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, wants the chamber’s State and Local Government Committee to hold hearings with the Department of Safety and Homeland Security and other groups to learn more about safeguards in place during resettlement. In the last year, 35 Syrians relocated to Tennessee, according to the Refugee Processing Center.

Gov. Bill Haslam says he is asking the federal government to “suspend” the placement of Syrian refugees in Tennessee, The Times Free Press reports. "We are currently working to get specifics from the U.S. Department of State on the status of any Syrian refugees currently slated to come to Tennessee," Haslam said in a statement issued following Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, and House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, request to block placements of Syrian refugees in Tennessee. However, USA Today reports governors have little power to stop refugees from entering states.

WJHL reports Greene County State Rep. David Hawk, R-Greenville, is introducing a bill proposing a September legislative session, saying the four-month window to make laws is not enough time. “We want to get to Nashville, do our business, pass our budget and get home as quickly as possible, but in this fast-paced world in which we live, there are lots of issues that come up outside the constraints of our regular session that really need to be addressed legislatively,” Hawk said. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey said he does not support the proposal.

Sullivan County District Attorney Barry Staubus, who championed a new state law that allows drug-addicted mothers to be charged with assault to a fetus if they refuse treatment, said the law should be reworked to include meth. The statute currently only applies to narcotics like prescription pain pills, heroin and crack. Statewide, roughly 100 women have been prosecuted under the law, Nashville Public Radio reports.