NASHVILLE — The Bredesen administration’s plan to boost the cost of a Tennessee driver’s license by $2 a year zipped through a key House subcommittee Wednesday.
The plan is touted as a way to save dozens of state troopers’ jobs in a dismal budget year.
But also on Wednesday, Budget Subcommittee members delayed consideration of the Tennessee Health Freedom Act, which seeks to challenge the federal health care reform law. Lawmakers said they want to wait until they have a better sense of what they can fund amid revenue shortfalls.
Other bills delayed for fiscal reasons including a measure placing new restrictions on cities’ use of red-light and speeding cameras as well as another bill aimed at “super speeders.”
Budget Subcommittee Chairman Harry Tindell, D-Knoxville, said putting the bills “behind the budget,” as lawmakers refer to the practice, doesn’t necessarily mean they are dead.
The panel, meanwhile, had no problem with the driver’s license fee increase, sponsored by Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Harmon, D-Dunlap. Under the bill, a driver’s license would be valid for eight years instead of the current five.
Overall fees would go from $19.50 every five years to $46 every eight years. It has been 22 years since license fees last went up, officials said.
The bill would raise an estimated $21.9 million in its first year, with much of the money going toward keeping 85 state troopers and 56 driver’s license station workers from being laid off. Senate Transportation Committee members are scheduled to consider the bill next week.
Rep. Mike Bell’s Tennessee Health Freedom Act was shuttled behind the budget based on a legislative staff analysis that it could cost the state attorney general’s office $5,000 to $50,000 to oppose the law in court.
Rep. Bell, R-Riceville, disputed the fiscal analysis, noting that an analysis originally said the cost would be minimal and that filing suit “would just be part of his duties.”
State Attorney General Bob Cooper has said the act is unconstitutional.
“I’m going to continue to argue the point that he should be fighting for the people of this state,” Rep. Bell said. “I’ve been given assurance by members of the committee that it will come out from behind the budget and be voted on. Now, whether I have the votes at that time (to pass it), that’s still yet to be seen.”
The Senate previously passed the bill.
* Also delayed was Rep. Harmon’s plan to restrict cities’ use of traffic enforcement cameras. It requires engineering studies to govern cameras’ use. Rep. Harmon said the costs of the bill were relatively low — nearly $14,000 — and readily could be accommodated even in a tight budget year.
“It’ll pass,” he predicted.
* Also delayed was a so-called “super-speeder” measure sponsored by Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland. It would fine motorists $200 for exceeding speed limits by more than 15 miles.
“It’s not dead,” Rep. Brooks said. “It’s just taking a nap.”
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Article: Tennessee: Fee hike for driver’s license advances in House