No Rabies Tax In Tennessee!

We are very pleased to report that the Tennessee General Assembly has adjourned for the year without passing SB 3850/HB 3834 — the bill that would have added up to $2 per rabies vaccination in Tennessee. The bills stalled in the Finance committees of their respective houses, behind the budget deliberations. Thanks to the calls and e-mails from veterinarians and concerned pet owners, we let our elected officials know that these bills were not only unwelcome but a very bad idea for Tennessee!

Thank you very much to everyone who contacted representatives and senators to ask them to oppose these bills. Your voice was heard.

The General Assembly will have a new cast of characters after the November elections when it convenes again in January and all previous bills, such as the rabies bills, will be off the table. If these bills are brought back they will have to start from scratch. Let's hope that we don't hear any more in Tennessee about taxing vaccinations for pets.

Thanks again for contacting your elected officials to tell them to oppose these bills.

Rabies Tax Update

A few people have asked what's happening with the rabies bills. They keep being pushed back in their committees.

actions taken on sb3850

Assigned to Gen. Sub of: S. FW&M Comm.

actions taken on hb3834

Action Def. in Finance, Ways & Means Committee to last calendar

Since the bills would add/subtract money from the state budget, they've become tied up with the budget. They may not be considered until something is decided about the bigger budget, especially in the House Finance, Ways & Means committee where the bill isn't scheduled to be heard until the "last calendar." But they can still hear it that day, vote on it, pass it and rush it up to the floor to pass it.

Please make some more phone calls and let the committee members know that you OPPOSE the rabies tax bills. Ask them to vote NO on these bills. Talk to your vets. Talk to your local animal shelters and rescues. They're going to be especially hard-hit by these bills since they vaccinate so many animals. This law would effect their budgets since it would cost more to vaccinate animals. Ask them to call committee members to oppose these bills.

You can find your own legislators by going to the Tennessee General

Assembly web site and looking on the righthand side of the page:

http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/ There’s a column with the

heading “Find My Legislator.” Just type in your street address and

city. It will bring up your local representative and state senator.

You can contact them about anything that concerns you but they may

not be on a particular committee that is considering a bill.

However, they will be voting on each bill that makes it to the House

or Senate floor so it’s always a good idea to drop them a line or try

to speak to them.

To write to the committee members about the rabies tax bill, here’s a

sample letter. The committee members are listed below with their

phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Please contact them and ask

them to oppose this bill!

Rabies tax sample letter (formal letter)

Your name

address

phone number

e-mail address

date

State Senator Dear Senator Doe:

The Honorable John Doe

State Senator

(Nashville mailing address)

or

State Representative Dear Representative Doe:

The Honorable John Doe

State Representative

(Nashville mailing address)

Salutation: (Dear Senator ___ or Representative ___:)

I’m writing you because I’m concerned about (SB 3850 for the Senate

or HB 3834 for the House). This is the rabies bill that you are

considering in the Finance, Ways & Means Committee. This bill would

add a minimum of $1 and possibly more to rabies vaccinations in the

state. I would like to ask you to oppose this bill.

[Reasons why you oppose the bill. Reasons why the legislator should

oppose.]

I agree with the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association that adding

these fees to rabies vaccinations will reduce the number of people

who vaccinate their pets against rabies.

In addition, many communities already add additional fees and

licenses to vaccinated animals which makes it expensive to do the

right thing and give your pet good veterinary care. These fees would

only add to this burden.

As proposed with these fees, the pet owners who are vaccinating their

pets would carry the entire cost of the state’s rabies program. This

would place an unfair tax burden on responsible pet owners.

Finally, this is a public health and safety issue. If fewer people

vaccinate their pets there will be a greater chance that someone in

Tennessee will contract rabies.

Please oppose the rabies bill when it comes before your committee.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

name

clubs

positions held

Members of the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee

Sen. Randy McNally, Chair - 615-741-6806,

sen.randy.mcnally@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Douglas Henry, Vice-Chair - 615-741-3291,

sen.douglas.henry@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Tim Burchett, Secretary - 615-741-1766,

sen.tim.burchett@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Diane Black - 615-741-1999, sen.diane.black@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Joe Haynes - 615-6679, sen.joe.haynes@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Roy Herron - 615-741-4576, sen.roy.herron@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Jim Kyle - 615-741-4167, sen.jim.kyle@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Mark Norris - 615-741-1967, sen.mark.norris@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Doug Overbey - 615-741-0981, sen.doug.overbey@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Bo Watson - 615-741-3227, sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Jamie Woodson - 615-741-1648, sen.jamie.woodson@capitol.tn.gov

Members of the House Finance, Ways & Means Committee

Craig Fitzhugh, Chair - (615) 741-2134 ,

rep.craig.fitzhugh@capitol.tn.gov

Charles Sargent, Vice-Chair - (615) 741-6808,

rep.charles.sargent@capitol.tn.gov

Johnny Shaw, Secretary - (615) 741-4538, rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov

Joe Armstrong - (615) 741-0768, rep.joe.armstrong@capitol.tn.gov

Stratton Bone - (615) 741-7086, rep.stratton.bone@capitol.tn.gov

Harry Brooks - (615) 741-6879, rep.harry.brooks@capitol.tn.gov

Kevin Brooks - (615) 741-1350, rep.kevin.brooks@capitol.tn.gov

Tommie Brown - (615) 741-4374, rep.tommie.brown@capitol.tn.gov

Glen Casada - (615) 741-4389rep.glen.casada@capitol.tn.gov

Kent Coleman - (615) 741-6829, rep.kent.coleman@capitol.tn.gov

Lois DeBerry - (615) 741-3830, rep.lois.deberry@capitol.tn.gov

Bill Dunn - (615) 741-1721, rep.bill.dunn@capitol.tn.gov

Jimmy Eldridge - (615) 741-7475, rep.jimmy.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov

Michael Harrison - (615) 741-7480, rep.mike.harrison@capitol.tn.gov

Curtis Johnson - (615) 741-4341, rep.curtis.johnson@capitol.tn.gov

Mark Maddox - (615) 741-7847, rep.mark.maddox@capitol.tn.gov

Debra Maggart - (615) 741-3893, rep.debra.maggart@capitol.tn.gov

Steve McDaniel - (615) 741-0750, rep.steve.mcdaniel@capitol.tn.gov

Steve McManus - (615) 741-1920, rep.steve.mcmanus@capitol.tn.gov

Larry Miller - (615) 741-4453, rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov

Richard Montgomery - (615) 741-5981,

rep.richard.montgomery@capitol.tn.gov

Jason Mumpower - (615) 741-2050, rep.jason.mumpower@capitol.tn.gov

Jimmy Naifeh - (615) 741-3774, spk.eme.jimmy.naifeh@capitol.tn.gov

Gary Odom - (615) 741-4410, rep.gary.odom@capitol.tn.gov

Dennis Roach - (615) 741-2534, rep.dennis.roach@capitol.tn.gov

Donna Rowland - (615) 741-2804, rep.donna.rowland@capitol.tn.gov

Janis Sontany - (615) 741-6861, rep.janis.sontany@capitol.tn.gov

Harry Tindell - (615) 741-2031, rep.harry.tindell@capitol.tn.gov

Mike Turner - (615) 741-3229, rep.mike.turner@capitol.tn.gov

Les Winningham - (615) 741-6852, rep.leslie.winningham@capitol.tn.gov

NO Rabies TAX In Tennessee!

Sample letter. Remember to change the bill from HB 3834 to SB 3850

when you write to the senators.

And please make phone calls! They are usually more effective.

Dear Representative ____:

As a pet owner, I am writing to ask you to vote NO on HB 3834, the

bill that would tax rabies vaccinations in Tennessee and add a fifty

cent surcharge to fund meals for the elderly.

Regardless of the stated purposes of these taxes, fees/surcharges,

this is a public safety issue. Vets, public officials and people

connected with pets, like myself, already have to work hard to get

people to vaccinate their pets. If you add these taxes to the cost

of a rabies vaccination the public compliance with state law

regarding rabies vaccinations will decrease. This means that it will

be much more likely that someone in Tennessee will be bitten by a pet

with rabies.

Tennessee should be doing more to encourage people to vaccinate their

pets against rabies instead of adding taxes to the cost of a rabies

vaccination.

Please vote AGAINST the amendments to HB 3834 and do not add taxes to

rabies vaccinations in Tennessee. If you vote for these taxes, then

it's only a matter of time before someone in Tennessee contracts rabies.

Sincerely,

etc.

etc.

Here are the committees and their members to contact regarding the

taxes that the Tennessee legislature is trying to impose on rabies

vaccinations:

Members of the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee

Sen. Randy McNally, Chair - 615-741-6806,

sen.randy.mcnally@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Douglas Henry, Vice-Chair - 615-741-3291,

sen.douglas.henry@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Tim Burchett, Secretary - 615-741-1766,

sen.tim.burchett@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Diane Black - 615-741-1999, sen.diane.black@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Joe Haynes - 615-6679, sen.joe.haynes@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Roy Herron - 615-741-4576, sen.roy.herron@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Jim Kyle - 615-741-4167, sen.jim.kyle@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Mark Norris - 615-741-1967, sen.mark.norris@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Doug Overbey - 615-741-0981, sen.doug.overbey@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Bo Watson - 615-741-3227, sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Jamie Woodson - 615-741-1648, sen.jamie.woodson@capitol.tn.gov

Members of the House Health & Human Resources Committee

Rep. Joe Armstrong, Chair - 615-741-0768,

rep.joe.armstrong@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Joey Hensley, Vice-Chair - 615-741-7476,

rep.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Joanne Favors, Secretary - 615-741-2702,

rep.joanne.favors@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Charles Curtiss - 615-741-1963, rep.charles.curtiss@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Vince Dean - 615-741-1934, rep.vince.dean@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. John DeBerry - 615-741-2239, rep.john.deberry@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Lois DeBerry - 615-741-3830, rep.lois.deberry@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Vance Dennis - 615-741-2190, rep.vance.dennis@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Joshua Evans - 615-741-2860, rep.joshua.evans@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Dennis Ferguson - 615-741-7658, rep.dennis.ferguson@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Henry Fincher - 615-741-1875, rep.henry.fincher@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Dale Ford - 615-741-1717, rep.dale.ford@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Curtis Halford - 615-741-7478, rep.curtis.halford@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Mike Harrision - 615-741-7480, rep.mike.harrison@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Sherry Jones - 615-741-2035, rep.sherry.jones@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Debra Maggart - 615-741-3893, rep.debra.maggart@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Jason Mumpower - 615-741-2050, rep.jason.mumpower@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Gary Odom - 615-741-4410, rep.gary.odom@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Mary Pruitt - 615-741-3853, rep.mary.pruitt@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Bob Ramsey - 615-741-3560, rep.bob.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Barrett Rich - 615-741-6890, rep.barrett.rich@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Jeanne Richardson - 615-741-2010,

rep.jeanne.richardson@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. David Shepard - 615-741-3513, rep.david.shepard@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Tony Shipley - 615-741-2886, rep.tony.shipley@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Mike Turner - 615-741-3229, rep.mike.turner@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Mark White - 615-741-4415, rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov

From The TVMA Concerning The State Rabies Tax

TN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BILL PROPOSES RABIES VACCINATION TAX

We Need Your Help!

The TN Department of Health has proposed a bill which will place a tax on the rabies vaccine to help fill a hole in their budget. It is HB3834 by Rep. Janis Sontany (D-Nashville) and SB3850 by Senator Doug Jackson (D-Dickson). The proposed amendment will become the bill, http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Amend/SA1067.pdf. The TVMA testified against the legislation before the House Health Committee on Tuesday, April 6. The bill has been delayed twice since then and is on the calendar for Tuesday, April 27. In the Senate, the bill passed the General Welfare Committee and will be heard in the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on Tuesday, April 27.

The language in the amendment is very vague and the Department of Health plans to outline the details in the rulemaking hearing process. It is contemplated that the tax on the rabies certificate would be around $1, but the bill does not state an exact amount. Currently TVMA is in discussions with the TN Department of Health.

We need your help now. If your Representative is a member of the House Health & Human Resources Committee (or you know a member), please contact them no later than Monday, April 26 by phone or by sending an email. If your Senator is on the Senate Finance Ways & Means Committee (or you know a member), please contact them as well by lunch on Tuesday, April 27.

Members of the Committees and their contact information is listed below. For other information, go to www.capitol.tn.gov.

TVMA's Position

We take a strong position that the proposed Rabies Tax will continue to discourage rabies vaccinations by pet owners across the state thus adding to the Rabies Public Health Risk for the people and pets of Tennessee.

The TVMA supports Rabies Control in the State along with Tennessee veterinarians volunteering their time and expertise to the Health Departments.

We are convinced since there is not a reliable way to truly know the number of pet's vaccinated state wide; we anticipate that the tax on Rabies Vaccine will be much more than the suggested $ 1.00 per rabies vaccine (e.g. Davidson County only reports approx. 85,000 and Hamilton County only reports approx. 67,600 rabies vaccine administered yearly).

To our knowledge, there is not a precedent where the State of Tennessee has ever singled out and taxed an individual medical procedure or service from a medical profession to fund a state run program.

Background information -- the following was provided to the Health & Human Resources Committee on April 6:

I. Public Health Concern

Increased cost of Rabies Vaccine will discourage pet owners from vaccinating their pets for rabies

A number of counties and municipalities already require a separate & additional pet license fee after the rabies vaccine is administered ranging from a few dollars to as much as $50.00 per year

Increased cost will only negatively affect the responsible pet owners trying to do the right thing with their pets

This Rabies Tax will also put an undue hardship on the programs where veterinarians vaccinate the homeless citizen's animals as well as certain stray animal populations at no charge

As the number of animals vaccinated for Rabies decreases, the protective barrier between rabid animals and humans becomes less likely to prevent the exposure of rabies to the human population of Tennessee

Due to the rabies problem in Tennessee we currently have in place an aerial and ground rabies baiting programs for the wild animals in parts of the State to help protect our human and animal population

II. Veterinarian Support of State Rabies Control

Veterinarians across the state volunteer their time & expertise to serve on their county's Health Department Rabies Control Boards

Veterinarians give discounted Rabies Vaccines for community Rabies Clinics on designated weekends in cooperation with county Health Departments to help reach a population of pets that would not get vaccinated

Veterinarians support the Health Departments and Animal Control Agencies with animal bite investigations along with needed quarantine facilities and when required sample preparation for rabies testing

III. Medical Procedure of Rabies Vaccine Administration

State Law allows dogs and cats from as young as 3 months of age and requires dogs and cats over 6 months of age to be vaccinated for Rabies by a licensed veterinarian or under the supervision of a veterinarian

Rabies vaccine is purchased and administered solely by an individual veterinarian as a medical procedure to the pet owner's animal

Public health concerns and local ordinances dictate how pets are vaccinated for rabies. However, it is in the pet owner's and pet's best interest that these medical decisions be made within a veterinary-client-patient relationship.

Depending on: 1) the species or medical condition of the animal: 2) city or county ordinances: 3) and the age of the animal will all be determining factors of the TYPE of rabies vaccines administered along with the possible FREQUENCY (1yr. verses 3yr.) of the vaccine

Members of the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee

Sen. Randy McNally, Chair - 615-741-6806, sen.randy.mcnally@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Douglas Henry, Vice-Chair - 615-741-3291, sen.douglas.henry@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Tim Burchett, Secretary - 615-741-1766, sen.tim.burchett@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Diane Black - 615-741-1999, sen.diane.black@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Joe Haynes - 615-6679, sen.joe.haynes@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Roy Herron - 615-741-4576, sen.roy.herron@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Jim Kyle - 615-741-4167, sen.jim.kyle@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Mark Norris - 615-741-1967, sen.mark.norris@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Doug Overbey - 615-741-0981, sen.doug.overbey@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Bo Watson - 615-741-3227, sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Jamie Woodson - 615-741-1648, sen.jamie.woodson@capitol.tn.gov

Members of the House Health & Human Resources Committee

Rep. Joe Armstrong, Chair - 615-741-0768, rep.joe.armstrong@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Joey Hensley, Vice-Chair - 615-741-7476, rep.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Joanne Favors, Secretary - 615-741-2702, rep.joanne.favors@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Charles Curtiss - 615-741-1963, rep.charles.curtiss@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Vince Dean - 615-741-1934, rep.vince.dean@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. John DeBerry - 615-741-2239, rep.john.deberry@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Lois DeBerry - 615-741-3830, rep.lois.deberry@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Vance Dennis - 615-741-2190, rep.vance.dennis@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Joshua Evans - 615-741-2860, rep.joshua.evans@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Dennis Ferguson - 615-741-7658, rep.dennis.ferguson@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Henry Fincher - 615-741-1875, rep.henry.fincher@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Dale Ford - 615-741-1717, rep.dale.ford@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Curtis Halford - 615-741-7478, rep.curtis.halford@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Mike Harrision - 615-741-7480, rep.mike.harrison@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Sherry Jones - 615-741-2035, rep.sherry.jones@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Debra Maggart - 615-741-3893, rep.debra.maggart@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Jason Mumpower - 615-741-2050, rep.jason.mumpower@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Gary Odom - 615-741-4410, rep.gary.odom@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Mary Pruitt - 615-741-3853, rep.mary.pruitt@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Bob Ramsey - 615-741-3560, rep.bob.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Barrett Rich - 615-741-6890, rep.barrett.rich@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Jeanne Richardson - 615-741-2010, rep.jeanne.richardson@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. David Shepard - 615-741-3513, rep.david.shepard@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Tony Shipley - 615-741-2886, rep.tony.shipley@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Mike Turner - 615-741-3229, rep.mike.turner@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Mark White - 615-741-4415, rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov

Thank you for your support!

Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association

PO Box 803

Fayetteville, TN 37334

www.tvmanet.org

Phone: 931-438-0070

Fax: 931-433-6289

green.delo@gmail.com

Another FEE Planned for Rabies Vaccinations in TN!

PLEASE CROSSPOST WIDELY!

SB 3850-HB 3834 has been re-written to add $1 to each rabies vaccination in Tennessee. Now there is another fee on rabies vaccinations planned by our legislature and governor.

Whether you've called and voiced your objection to SB 3850-HB 3834 or not, PLEASE call and write again. A second amendment to the bill is outlined in a fiscal memo here:

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Fiscal/FM1856.pdf

(I'll post the memo at the end of this message.)

It states that, in addition to the $1 fee added to each rabies vaccination, the governor plans to add a fifty cent surcharge to each vaccination to fund HOME-DELIVERED MEALS FOR ELDERLY CITIZENS. Now, I am as sympathetic to elderly citizens as anyone else, but there is no reason in the world why pet owners should be paying for their meals. The governor and legislature need to find another way to pay for things instead of trying to stick it to pet owners. In fact, many seniors own pets, so they would have to pay these fees that would be used to buy the meals!

That would make a total of $1.50 added to each rabies vaccination in the state. Each additional fee makes it more likely that some animals would go unvaccinated and that someone in Tennessee would be bitten by an animal with rabies.

Everyone needs to call AND write the House Health & Human Resources Committee right away! This is URGENT. If you don't act then you will be paying these fees in just a few weeks, and so will everyone else in TN.

To voice your opposition to these state-added fees on vaccination certificates, please contact the following committee members by 4/27/10. Be polite but tell them that this is a public safety issue. If they add additional fees to pet vaccinations there will be people who will not vaccinate their pets. That means an increase in the odds that someone in Tennessee will get rabies. You can ask them if it will happen in their district? How are they going to explain a case of rabies to their constituents or to the media?

House Health and Human Resources Committee

Rep. Joe Armstrong, Chair

D-Knoxville

Phone (865) 357-1524

nashville office Phone (615) 741-0768

Fax (615) 253-0316

rep.joe.armstrong@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Joey Hensley, vice chair

Phone (615) 741-7476

rep.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov

Members

Note: all phone numbers below are area code 615

Charles Curtiss rep.charles.curtiss@capitol.tn.gov

741-1963

Vince Dean rep.vince.dean@capitol.tn.gov 741-1934

John DeBerry rep.vince.dean@capitol.tn.gov 741-2239

Lois DeBerry rep.lois.deberry@capitol.tn.gov 741-3830

Vance Dennis rep.vance.dennis@capitol.tn.gov 741-2190

Joshua Evans rep.joshua.evans@capitol.tn.gov 741-2860

Dennis Ferguson rep.dennis.ferguson@capitol.tn.gov

741-7658

Henry Fincher rep.henry.fincher@capitol.tn.gov 741-1875

Dale Ford rep.dale.ford@capitol.tn.gov 741-1717

Curtis Halford rep.curtis.halford@capitol.tn.gov 741-7478

Michael Harrison rep.mike.harrison@capitol.tn.gov

741-7480

Sherry Jones rep.sherry.jones@capitol.tn.gov 741-2035

Debra Maggart rep.debra.maggart@capitol.tn.gov 741-3893

Jason Mumpower rep.jason.mumpower@capitol.tn.gov

741-2050

Gary Odom rep.gary.odom@capitol.tn.gov 741-4410

Mary Pruitt rep.mary.pruitt@capitol.tn.gov 741-3853

Bob Ramsey rep.bob.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov 741-3560

Barrett Rich rep.barrett.rich@capitol.tn.gov 741-6890

Jeanne Richardson rep.jeanne.richardson@capitol.tn.gov

741-2010

David Shepard rep.david.shepard@capitol.tn.gov 741-3513

Tony Shipley rep.tony.shipley@capitol.tn.gov 741-2886

Mike Turner rep.mike.turner@capitol.tn.gov 741-3229

Mark White rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov 741-4415

SB 3850 – HB 3834

TENNESSEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE

FISCAL MEMORANDUM

SB 3850 – HB 3834

April 15, 2010

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS (016012, 016675): Deletes all language after the

enacting clause and authorizes the Commissioner of Health to charge a registration fee for each

vaccination certificate that does not exceed the cost of the program. Creates a $0.50 surcharge on

the fee for the sole purpose to fund congregate or home-delivered meals for elder citizens under

programs administered by the Department of Human Services or the Commission on Aging and

Disability and adds the severability clause.

FISCAL IMPACT OF ORIGINAL BILL:

Increase Local Expenditures – Exceeds $100,000*

*Article II, Section 24 of the Tennessee Constitution provides that: no law of general application shall impose increased

expenditure requirements on cities or counties unless the General Assembly shall provide that the state share in the cost.

FISCAL IMPACT OF BILL WITH PROPOSED AMENDMENTS:

Increase State Revenue - $1,000,000/Rabies Vaccination Certificate Fee

$500,000/Congregate or Home-Delivered Meals Programs

Decrease State Expenditures - $1,000,000/General Fund

(The $1,000,000 in rabies vaccination fee revenue is reflected in the Governor’s

FY10-11 Recommended Budget)

Assumptions applied to amendments:

• According to the Department of Health, there will be a fee of $1 per registration

established that will result in $1,000,000 in service fee revenue.

• Currently, the rabies vaccination program is 100 percent funded through the General

Fund. This will result in a decrease in $1,000,000 in General Fund expenditures for the

program. The $1,000,000 in increased revenue will not completely fund the program.

• The Governor’s proposed budget proposes to replace $1,000,000 of General Fund

dollars with $1,000,000 service fee revenue in the program’s budget.

SB 3850 – HB 3834 2

• The $0.50 surcharge on the fee will result in $500,000 [($1,000,000/$1) x $0.50] in

revenue to fund congregate and home-delivered meals for elder citizens that are enrolled

in programs administered by the Department of Human Services and the Commission on

Aging and Disability.

CERTIFICATION:

This is to duly certify that the information contained herein is true and correct to the best of

my knowledge.

James W. White, Executive Director

/kml