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Special Needs Job Fair Set for Clarksville

Tennessee Representative Joe Pitts

“Care Alert” bill passes and Several Bills Advance

Tennessee State Representative - District 67Nashville, TN – Several bills sponsored by Tennessee Representative Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville) moved along in committees last week. This is a general update on the bills and events on the Hill from last week.

House Bill 1513/Senate Bill 1658 (Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville) is a proposal from the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association to allow county governments to give to retiring full time deputies their service weapon (pistol) that was carried in the line of duty. Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson, an active member of the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association, requested we sponsor this legislation on behalf of his retiring deputies. This legislation passed the House earlier this week and will be heard on the Senate Floor on March 14th.

Tennessee State Representative Joe Pitts
Tennessee State Representative Joe Pitts

“Care Alert” bill receives unanimous House vote. House Bill 1512/Senate Bill 1485 Rep. Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville) proposes to change the “missing citizen alert program” to the “Care Alert Program” by expanding the definition of individuals that constitute a “missing person” for purposes of the Care Alert Program. Under the proposal, a disabled person, would qualify to be included in the Care Alert. This legislation was the idea of Margaret Davis, a constituent, and mother of an autistic adult son, JT. She was concerned the “missing citizens alert program” known as the Silver Alert, left out citizens 18 years of age or older who have an intellectual, developmental, or physical disability.

The legislation cleared the House Floor on Monday, March 7th and will be heard on the Senate Floor on March 14th.

House Bill 1802/Senate Bill 1759 (Sen. Mark Green, R-Clarksville) is a bill that will help our enlisted soldiers and their families. Currently, if a soldier that is married and living off base they get their basic salary, plus a basic housing allowance, and a basic subsistence allowance, i.e. food stamps, while they are stationed at home. When the soldier deploys to combat or training, the basic subsistence allowance is taken away, thereby leaving their families without food stamps. Once the soldier returns home, the allowance is returned to the family.

This legislation will restrict the Tennessee Department of Health from using the basic subsistence allowance in calculating income for the purpose of determining eligibility for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This legislation has passed the Senate Floor and will be heard in the House Health Sub-committee on March 15th. “This is the right thing to do for our soldiers and their families,” said Rep. Pitts. “Great thanks to Sen Green for the opportunity to sponsor the legislation in the House of Representatives.”

Special Needs Job Fair Coming to Clarksville

On Friday, March 4th, State Representative Joe Pitts hosted a luncheon for business people interested in participating in Special Needs Job Fair. Over 60 people attended to discuss the benefits and opportunities of hiring a very special talent pool of folks who are, according to Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville), “gifted differently”.

“The overwhelming attendance and active participation made an extraordinary impact on me and I am hopeful the business community found it useful as well,” said Representative Pitts. The job fair is scheduled for Tuesday, March 29th from 9:00am to noon and will be held at the American Job Center Clarksville, 523 Madison Street, Clarksville.

For more information contact Karla Fuss at Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development at 931.905.3571 or karla.fuss@tn.gov

If you have questions about the above or other issues of concern, please call me at 615.741.2043, or email me at rep.joe.pitts@capitol.tn.gov

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