Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s administration is seeking to broaden the state Homeland Security’s investigative authority and make its actions confidential, leading critics to call it a “secret police.”
Under Senate Bill 1880 and House Bill 1639, the Office of Homeland Security would be created within the Department of Safety, even though it has existed since 2003 under an executive order issued by former Gov. Phil Bredesen after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As part of the new bill, the safety commissioner can hire commissioned agents and non-commissioned personnel to the office that directs the state’s homeland security operations and works with state, local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Separately, Senate Bill 1881 would make all records of the office confidential, closing them to public inspection, even after investigations and criminal cases are finished, a departure from laws that apply to local police departments.
As part of its expanded authority, the office would be allowed to secure the state’s election infrastructure at the secretary of state’s request
A spokesperson for the Department of Safety and Homeland Security didn’t respond to questions Monday, and Lee said he didn’t know the bill’s details.