The Senate Judiciary Committee amended and unanimously approved Senate Bill 9-32 to create a study committee charged with evaluating the feasibility of a program to facilitate reinstatement of suspended and revoked driver licenses when defendants meet court and Department of Safety requirements.

Sponsor Senator Rose explained the amendment creates a study committee with members appointed by legislative leaders and the governor, including a General Sessions judge, law-enforcement representation and a public member with criminal-justice experience. “It's really all it does. It's just to…we've got our jails are overburdened, and this would be possibly a way that we get some of those folks out, and give them a way to get to work,” Rose said.

Nut graf: Supporters portrayed the study as a possible tool to reduce jail populations and help people regain employment; prosecutors told the committee they wanted to be part of the study and that care should be taken not to affect mandatory revocations for serious offenses such as DUI-related vehicular crimes.

Stephen Crump and Mike Donovan of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference said the conference would want to participate in the study and provide input, and stressed the need to protect victims and not interfere with mandatory revocations for crimes like DUI vehicular assault. “We would want to be careful not to upset or interfere with the mandatory license revocations for DUI vehicular assault and vehicular homicide,” Donovan said.

Ending: With no further objection, the committee approved the amended bill by voice and recorded roll call as an 8-0 vote; the measure goes to the Senate calendar for further consideration.