Governor Bredesen Signs Three Bills Into Law

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

July 01, 2008

Governor Bredesen signed three pieces of legislation in a ceremonial bill signing today, including a bill that establishes a Council on Children’s Mental Health Care (SB 2582/ HB 2502), a bill revising the provisions of Tennessee law governing state social workers (SB 2932/ HB3802), and a bill that enacts Claire’s Law (SB 3191/ HB 2743).

Claire’s Law requires hearing loss screenings for every newborn in Tennessee unless the parents object on the grounds that the test would conflict with their religious tenets or practices.

“With Claire’s Law, we are greatly improving early hearing detection and intervention in Tennessee,” Bredesen said. “With these new measures in place for early detection, we will be able to better help children with hearing loss and to promote their healthy development.”

The newly established Council on Children’s Mental Health care will be organized by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. The council is charged with developing a plan for a statewide system of care in which children’s mental health is child-centered and family-driven and that provides a coordinated system of care for children’s mental health needs in Tennessee.

Highlights of the social workers bill include renaming the governing board to be the “board of social worker licensure,” revising the membership of the board and revising the categories of social workers and licensure.