SENATOR OPHELIA FORD Senatorial District 29

Nashville Address 318 War Memorial Building Nashville, TN 37243 (615) 741-1767 1-800-449-8366, ext. 11767 sen.ophelia.ford@capitol.tn.gov Home Address 54 N. Arcadian Cir., Ste. 102 Memphis, TN 38103 (901) 575-2321 http://capitol.tn.gov

SUMMER 2011

Legislative Update
SENATOR OPHELIA FORD
Greetings, The 2011 legislative session has ended, and this Legislative Update will let you know all about the state budget and legislation I either sponsored or supported during the first year of the 107th General Assembly. The last year has been one of ups and downs, celebrations and difficulties, but through it all, I believe that we will emerge with a stronger Memphis and Shelby County. We passed a budget that continues to fully fund education, including our nationally recognized pre-kindergarten program that was once thought to be in danger. We restored cuts to crucial health care services for the elderly and the physically and mentally disabled. And we provided unemployment benefits extensions to 28,000 Tennesseans who are still looking for a job. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please dont hesitate to call. Thanks once again for supporting me, and I look forward to continuing to work for you. As always, it is my greatest pleasure to serve my constituents in District 29 and the State of Tennessee. Sincerely,

How Senator Ophelia Ford is Working For You

Below is legislation that I either sponsored, co-sponsored or supported on behalf of Tennesseans. I worked together with other members of the Senate and House of Representatives to accomplish the following:

Fostering Jobs Growth For Tennesseans

Extended Unemployment Benefits for 28,000 Tennesseans for up to 20 weeks as they continue to search for jobs. Secured bonds and tax incentives to bring Electrolux to Memphis, which will result in a $190 million economic impact and approximately 1,200 new jobs.

Making Education A Priority

Supported extension of HOPE lottery scholarships to summer classes to help college students earn degrees faster and institutions use resources more efficiently. Worked to restore $125,000 in funding for programs and operational expenses at the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf after the funds initially faced cuts in budget talks. Voted for $5 million to begin the transfer of Lambuth University into a University of Memphis campus that will create greater opportunities for students throughout West Tennessee.

Providing Health Care To Those In Need

Restored previously scheduled cuts to vital health care for seniors and the mentally disabled, including funds for the Department of Intellectual Disability Services (DIDS) in order to maintain residential rates. Created $150,000 grant to pay the expenses of patients and their families who are Tennessee citizens and residents when traveling to and from St. Jude Hospital. Required insurance companies to cover hearing aids for children.

Senator Ophelia Ford STORM RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE Millington has suffered greatly from floods and storms over the last year, beginning with the May 1st and 2nd floods in 2010 and extending to the Mississippi River flooding that damaged 2,500 homes, businesses and other buildings in Millington and other areas of Shelby County this year. I continue to be impressed and humbled by the response of our community, including the work of our churches, business owners and local code inspectors who are out performing inspections and trying to get victims back to their homes as quickly as possible. Nearly 2,000 residents have already applied for disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Those affected can still contact FEMA at http://www.disasterassistance.gov or 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). On the state level, we have created the same sales tax break for construction materials and appliances that victims of last years floods received. The tax break applies to purchases made until the end of the year, with the deadline application coming at the end of February 2012. For more information, visit the Department of Revenues website at http://tn.gov/revenue and click on Flood Relief Information, or call (615) 253-0600. We also created a sales tax break for up to $2,500 for materials to construct storm shelters, beginning July 1 and continuing through the end of the year. More information on the refund will be coming soon from the Department of Revenue, but hopefully this program will allow more Tennesseans to have a safe place during the tornadoes and storms that, unfortunately, have become a part of life in our area. SHELBY COUNTY PRIORITIES We have continued to fund our civic priorities, including $2.5 million to continue supporting renovations at The National Civil Rights Museum and $100,000 to the Stax Museum. We also provided a $150,000 grant to pay the expenses of Tennessee patients and their families as they travel to and from St. Jude Hospital, so that they might have one less thing to worry about as they visit their loved ones in our city's most renowned hospital. We ensured that the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf would receive funding for its programming and operational costs. MEMPHIS RESEARCH CONSORTIUM We were able to provide $10 million to the Memphis Research Consortium, a collaborative effort including St. Jude, University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. These funds will provide the capital necessary to attract more investments and make Memphis into a world-class city for medical research and discovery.

Students with the CONNECT Memphis City Mentoring Program visited Senator Ford and Senator Reginald Tate of Memphis.

Supporting Our Military Veterans And Families

Ensured that surviving military spouses continued to receive property tax relief to which they are entitled. Created the Tennessee Distinguished Service Medal for members of our Tennessee National Guard and U.S. armed forces killed in the line of duty, because we have a responsibility to honor those who have died defending the freedoms we enjoy. Supported legislation to require the state treasurer to hold unclaimed military medals and work with veterans organizations to find the rightful owners and their families. Made it easier for overseas Tennessee veterans to exercise their right to vote.

STAFF
Senate Democratic Caucus Press Secretary Colby Sledge was instrumental in creating this newsletter. Senator Fords Legislative Assistant is Kim Baldwin.

COMMITTEES
Senate General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Senate Judiciary

MEMBERSHIPS
Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators National Black Caucus of State Legislators National Organization of Black Elected Legislative (NOBEL) Women American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)

SENATOR OPHELIA FORD

The Following Are Additional Bills I Sponsored, Co-Sponsored or Supported During the 2011 Legislative Session
SB0024 EXTENDED SALES TAX RELIEF Extends sales tax relief for furniture, appliances and building materials purchased in response to May 2010 flood. SB0034 HONORING VETERANS Requires state flags to be flown at half-staff during day of mourning declared by the governor for military members killed in action. SB0064, SB604, SB605 HUMAN TRAFFICKING Increases penalties for those participating in human trafficking,while protecting victims. Allows law enforcement to seize assets to fund human trafficking awareness and prevention programs. Creates a hotline to report suspected human trafficking. SB127 JUDICIAL REFORM Would create five districts, based on metropolitan areas, for the direct election of Tennessee Supreme Court judges every eight years. Also calls for the direct election of appellate court judges in six districts across the state. SB0265 TUSKEGEE AIRMEN Names a portion of I-75 in Tennessee the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Trail. SB0267 STORM SHELTERS Provides sales tax exemption for building supplies for construction of storm or tornado shelters purchased between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2011. SB0396, SB1726 DRUG CONTROL Outlaws the sale, production and distribution of so-called bath salts, hallucinogenic drugs and various versions of synthetic marijuana. SB0411, SB1100 MILITARY FAMILIES Clarifies that property tax relief must be extended to surviving spouses of veterans whose combat-related casualties were from hostile or non-hostile causes, or who would have been eligible for relief had the veteran qualified under later amendments to the law. SB0439 CONSERVATION Designates Old Forest in Shelby County as a Class II Natural-Scientific State Natural Area, thereby prohibiting development and preserving the forest for future generations. SB0476, SB0567 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Adds attempting or intending to cause bodily injury by strangulation to the definition of aggravated assault. Permits courts to order GPS tracking of domestic violence defendants in order to protect victims. SB0488 BULLYING Defines cyber-bullying and requires schools to implement policies against cyber-bullying. SB0541, SB0572 MILITARY MEDALS Establishes the Tennessee Medal of Honor, issued by the General Assembly to certain members of the Tennessee National Guard or the U.S. Armed Forces killed in the line of duty. Requires the treasurer to hold unclaimed military medals and appoint a custodian to find the rightful owners. SB1380 MILITARY FUNERALS Increases penalties for disorderly conduct within 500 feet of a funeral or memorial service. SB2029 CAR TOWING Requires anyone wishing to tow a vehicle to first provide the vehicles information to local law enforcement. SB2042 WARRANTS Directs the administrative office of the courts to study issues related to the use of old warrants and related processes by local law enforcement and to report findings to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Thinking Of You, Memphis And Shelby County
During the legislative session, I sponsored a total of 30 bills that would have provided funding for various organizations, health and education efforts and economic grants in the district. However, due to budget constraints, they did not pass out of the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee during the 2011 legislative session. Nevertheless, as your Senator, I am continually fighting for funding for Shelby County. I was successful in obtaining several grants for Memphis and Shelby County, including a $10 million grant for the Memphis Research Consortium. The consortium is a collaborative effort including St. Jude, University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center that projects to create $19.4 million in new wages within a decade and is recruiting world-class scientists to establish Memphis as a global medical research hub. I also helped secure a $1 million grant for the HBCU Wellness Project, which counts among its members Lemoyne-Owen College. The intervention program works at private, historically black colleges and universities to promote health and decrease chronic disease risks in the surrounding communities. The budget also included crucial bonds and tax incentives to bring Electrolux to Memphis, which will result in a $190 million economic impact and approximately 1,200 new jobs. Electrolux is the latest in a long line of job creation announcements that include positions and investments at City Brewing, Mitsubishi and Cargill. During a tough economic time, we are working hard to ensure that Memphis continues to attract good jobs. Additionally, the Tennessee Department of Transportation is busy repairing, widening and building roads and bridges throughout Memphis and Shelby County. In all, nearly 80 projects are underway, including 27 bridge repairs. These repairs are in various stages, but they will ultimately provide a stronger infrastructure for our district and all of Memphis and Shelby County.