Ron RamseyNASHVILLE - Gov. Bill Haslam said Monday he understands Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey's proposal on collective bargaining for teachers but wants it "fleshed out on paper" before deciding whether to support it.
"I've heard the concept and again, I understand the concept, that all of these issues would be things that would be in the [local education agency] handbook to talk about," Haslam said. "And I said, I like the concept. Let's see what it looks like fleshed out on paper."
Ramsey, R-Blountville, and Senate majority Republicans want to eliminate all collective bargaining by the teachers' union.
Haslam, a Republican, and House majority Republicans, have balked on that. They support a scaled-back version that lets teachers continue negotiating on base pay and fringe benefits.
Senate Republicans are saying they will include language that would set up a procedure requiring school boards to talk to teachers. But school boards would not have to act on anything teachers seek.
Haslam met with House Republicans on Monday, but he said collective bargaining was not discussed.
In other action:
• The House Monday night overwhelmingly approved a bill allowing fireworks sales in East Ridge.
The vote on the bill, sponsored by Rep. Vince Dean, R-East Ridge, was 92-4.
"This bill simply allows for the sale of Class C fireworks within the city of East Ridge," Dean said.
There was no debate.
Last week, the Senate version of the bill failed on a 12-11 vote. It needed 17 to pass.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, said last week several senators were out of the chamber when the bill came up and did not vote. He said he planned to talk with Dean about how to proceed.
• Tennesseans cheated by insurance companies and their agents no longer could seek triple damages through the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act under a bill given final approval by senators Monday on a 21-7 vote.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jamie Woodson, R-Knoxville, previously was passed by the House and now goes to Gov. Bill Haslam.
It removes insurers from the 1977 consumer law. A 1987 Court of Appeals ruling and subsequent 1988 Tennessee Supreme Court ruling put the insurance industry under the law's provisions.
"I have concerns about this legislation," said Sen. Roy Herron, D-Dresden, noting courts ruled that insurers and their agents were subject to the consumer protection law just as lawyers, doctors and others were.
Herron said there are 1,463 out-of-state insurance companies doing business in Tennessee and only 79 Tennessee-based insurance companies. The beneficiaries of the bill, he said, are out-of-state insurers, who he said "bend the rule and engage in unfair and deceptive practices."
He said while consumers still fall under "bad act" provisions under regular insurance laws, they only award damage awards of up to 25 percent.
Proponents of the bill say courts overreached on the law, which never included insurance companies and contend there are adequate protections against unfair and deceptive practices in insurance laws.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.