NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Tennessee General Assembly has passed new measures to strengthen the state’s commitment to firefighters, police officers and members of the military.

First Responder Pay Increase

Beginning July 1, some first responders will see an increase in training pay. The supplemental training pay for police officers and firefighters will increase from $600 to $800 per year.

Military Families

Tennessee will exempt some members of the armed forces and their spouses from obtaining a professional license in state. It will now recognize a valid license from another state to practice a regulated occupation. The service members and their spouses must be stationed at a Tennessee military installation. This will allow more service members and their spouses the opportunity to find employment, without having to go through additional licensing programs.

Barry Brady Act

The General Assembly passed what is known as the Barry Brady Act. The bill protects full-time firefighters who develop conditions resulting from certain types of cancer. The legislation presumes that these conditions, which resulted in hospitalization, medical treatment or disability, arose from employment. Any death resulting from these conditions will be considered loss of life in the line of duty. The bill is named after a Sparta, Tenn. firefighter who lost his battle to colon cancer earlier in the year.

Grant Program for Volunteer Fire Departments

The State is rolling out a new program known as the Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant Program on January 1, 2020. The program will provide grants to select volunteer fire departments across the state for the purchase of firefighting equipment or to meet the local match requirements for federal grants.

Protection of Vulnerable Citizens

Legislation was updated to increase protection for the elderly and vulnerable citizens.. Known as the ‘Elderly and Vulnerable Adult Protection Act of 2019’ amendments will take effect January 1, 2020 strengthening laws to protect vulnerable populations. The legislation amended certain language making it unlawful for persons to ‘knowingly fail to report abuse, sexual exploitation, neglect, or financial exploitation’ of vulnerable citizens.

The offense or abuse of an elderly adult is considered a Class E felony. The offense or abuse of a vulnerable adult is considered a Class D felony.

An elder abuse task force will assess the status of elders and other vulnerable adults covered by the Tennessee Adult Protection Act.

To read more about any of the above pieces of legislation visit the State of Tennessee website.