March 19, 2006

This Tuesday lawmakers who attempted to take away your rights to adopt have legislation which could be used to do the same thing this session!  We need your help in “Cyber Blitzing” House members on the Domestic Relations Subcommittee and Family Justice Subcommittee, along with House Leadership.  Here are the easy steps:

First, here are the subcommittee members and House leadership.

Domestic Relations- Sherry Jones, Tommie Brown, Jerome Cochran, JoAnne Favors, Matthew Hill, Debra Maggart, Beverly Marrero, Nathan Vaughn.

Family Justice - Beverly Marrero, Glen Casada, Barbara Cooper, Jimmy Eldridge, Curtis Johnson, Sherry Jones, Mark Maddox, Donna Rowland, Johnny Shaw.

House Leadership- (Speaker) Jimmy Naifeh, Kim McMillan, Randy Rinks, Dennis Ferguson, Rob Briley, Lois Deberry, Larry Turner.

Second, use this easy step to contact lawmakers by email, as follows: rep.firstname.lastname@legislature.state.tn.us

Third, here are sample letters.  Try to use your own words from your heart!  Be sure your bill numbers are correct, ok!

SAMPLE: Domestic Relations Subcommittee and Leadership

Dear Representative ______:

I am writing concerning HB 2945 and HB 2944 by Rep. Brian Kelsey calendared for House Domestic Relations Subcommittee Tuesday at noon.  I am extremely concerned that these bills by Rep. Kelsey may be amended to carry "anti-gay" legislation including "anti-adoption" and "anti-child custody" language.

As the bills are currently drafted, they do no harm to our families.  My fear concerns Mr. Kelsey’s co-sponsorship of HB 775, the bill outlawing gay adoption. I am apprehensive about his of motives and writing as a citizen of this State.  Please do not allow amendments on Rep. Kelsey's bills and make him pledge on the record NOT TO TAKE AMENDMENTS.

There does not need to be a vehicle available to pass discriminatory language against families and kids.

Thank you for your service to the State of Tennessee, and our children and families.

Sincerely,

SAMPLE: Family Justice Subcommittee and Leadership

Dear Representative _______:

I am writing concerning a bill on calendar in Family Justice Subcommittee this week, HB 2943 by Representative Brian Kelsey.  My reason for worry is simple- Mr. Kelsey is a co-sponsor of HB 775 the bill filed to outlaw gay adoption. 

This representative has made his motives very clear in the past.  HB 2943 has language about child custody rights, but is written to open the state’s adoption law.  This sponsor and this bill are potentially very dangerous.  Please do not let this bill move UNLESS there is a pledge on the record NOT TO TAKE AMENDMENTS.

We do not need another threat to families, the state’s fragile childcare system or the happy lives of Tennessee’s children who have found safe, loving homes.

We look to you, our elected officials to lead us past injustice and mean-spirited actions! Thank you for your service to the State of Tennessee, and our children and families.

Sincerely,

TEP CITIZEN LOBBYISTS, IT IS UP TO YOU TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND IT WILL ONLY TAKE A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME!  Get going and send those emails today.  It’s time to TEP Cyber Blitz!

Don’t forget to call the Subcommittee offices to make sure the bills are on notice (the numbers are listed below in the WHAT HAPPENS THIS WEEK section) and if they are, come down and watch the debate!

Thanks for “Being Informed and Being Active”!

Sincerely,
TEP Public Policy Committee

WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK
Senate Floor

SB2660 Anti-Picketing at Funeral-500 ft Limit (Black) Bill passed the Senate with clarifying amendments.

House Judiciary Committee

HB2625 Anti-Picketing at Funeral-1000 ft Limit (McMillan) Bill deferred.

House Education K-12 Subcommittee

HB2470 Policy for Bullying of Teachers (Baird) Bill taken off notice by sponsor.

House Domestic Relations Subcommittee

HB1961 Protect Parent Reform Act (Stanley) Bill taken off notice by sponsor.

Senate Judiciary Committee

SB2731 Anti-Picketing at Funeral-1000 ft Limit (Kurita) Bill taken off notice by sponsor.

Senate Education Committee

SB2888 Bullies Expelled (Haynes) Action deferred and bill taken off notice.

House Education Committee

HB2439 Bullies Expelled (Mike Turner) Action deferred one week.

WHAT HAPPENS THIS WEEK
* We’re Got a Cyber Blitz!

Tuesday, March 21st

House Judiciary Committee, LP31, 9:00 AM, (615) 741-1351

HB2625 Anti-Picketing at Funeral-1000 ft Limit (McMillan) Filed in response to protests staged by anti-gay activist Rev. Fred Phelps.
TEP is monitoring this legislation.

Committee Members- Joe Fowlkes, Kent Coleman, Janis Sontany, Rob Briley, Henri Brooks, Frank Buck, Jerome Cochran, Russell Johnson, Brian Kelsey, Kim McMillan, Eric Watson.

House Civil Practice Subcommittee, LP31, (615) 741-2184

HB3606 Establishes certain rights for children and spouses in certain cases of neglect (Kelsey) Filed by anti-gay adoption bill co-sponsor; bill opens State estate law.
TEP is monitoring this legislation.

Subcommittee members- Rob Briley, Henri Brooks, Jerome Cochran, Brian Kelsey, Kim McMillan

House Domestic Relations Subcommittee, LP 29, 12 Noon (615) 741-2035
HB2945 Purports to expand the definition of “biological parents”(Kelsey)- Filed by anti-gay adoption bill co-sponsor; bill opens State adoption law.
TEP will oppose if amended.

HB2944 Purports to clarify “parental rights including “guardianship” for adoption (Kelsey) Filed by anti-gay adoption bill co-sponsor; bill opens State adoption law.
TEP will oppose if amended.

HB2763 Bill extends child visitation rights to grandparents (Strader)-
Filed by anti-gay adoption bill co-sponsor; bill opens State child custody and visitation law.
TEP will oppose if amended. 

Subcommittee Members-Sherry Jones, Tommie Brown, Jerome Cochran, JoAnne Favors, Matthew Hill, Brian Kelsey, Debra Maggart, Beverly Marrero, Nathan Vaughn.

House Family Justice Subcommittee, LP30, 3:00 PM (615) 741-9128

HB2943 Bill purports to change a definition regarding termination of rights in child custody matters (Kelsey) Filed by anti-gay adoption bill co-sponsor; bill opens State adoption law.
TEP will oppose if amended.

Subcommittee Members- Beverly Marrero, Glen Casada, Barbara Cooper, Jimmy Eldridge, Curtis Johnson, Sherry Jones, Mark Maddox, Donna Rowland, Johnny Shaw

Senate Judiciary Committee, LP 12, 3:30 PM (615) 741-7821

SB2828 Bill extends child visitation rights to grandparents (McCleary)-
Filed by anti-gay adoption bill co-sponsor in the House; bill opens State child custody and visitation law.
TEP will oppose if amended. 

Committee Members- Curtis Person, Doug Jackson, Tommy Kilby, Steve Cohen, David Fowler, Joe Haynes, Jeff Miller, Mark Norris, Jamie Woodson

Wednesday, March 22nd

House Education Committee, LP 16, 11:00 AM  (615) 741-4811

HB2439 Bullies Expelled (Mike Turner) Students ganging up to fight an individual student on school property are to be expelled for one year.
TEP is monitoring this legislation.

Committee Members- Les Winningham, Tommie Brown, Joe Towns, Harry Brooks, Barbara, Steve Godsey, Dolores Gresham, Beth Harwell, John Hood, Ulysses Jones, Mark Maddox, Gerald McCormick, Richard Montgomery, Eric Swafford, Larry Turner, John Mark Windle

House Constitutional Protections Subcommittee, LP 30, 11:30 AM  (615) 741-6861

HB2625 Anti-Picketing at Funeral-500 Ft Limit (Hargett) Filed in response to protests staged by anti-gay activist Rev. Fred Phelps.
TEP is monitoring this legislation.

Subcommittee Members- Janis Sontany, Henri Brooks, Rob Briley, Kent Coleman, Kim McMillan, Eric Watson

Remember before traveling downtown call the committee office at the number shown to make sure the bill will be heard.