Representative David Byrd: District 71 Capitol Hill Update

Drag racing – Public Chapter 573 stiffens the penalty for drag racing from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor to deter drivers from engaging in this reckless behavior.

Enhanced penalties for aggravated riots – Public Chapter 440 adds to the offense of aggravated rioting to include those who are compensated to participate in a riot or travel from outside the state to participate.

Protecting Law Enforcement Informants – Public Chapter 586 states that if a district attorney general is required to disclose personal identifying information of or statements made by a victim of a sexual offense, law enforcement informant or witness who is expected to testify against a defendant charged with a violent crime, then the district attorney general may petition the court for a protective order prohibiting the defendant and their counsel from publishing the information or statements made before or during the trial.

Crime / Post-Conviction Fingerprint Analysis – Public Chapter 355 establishes a process for fingerprint testing post-conviction in the state of Tennessee. Every state has the ability to test DNA post-conviction, and this sets up a similar process for fingerprints, which can be just as important for solving cold cases.

Intellectually Disabled / Capital Punishment – Public Chapter 399 redefines “intellectually disabled” for the purpose of capital punishment in conformity with court decisions. It replaces this requirement with a need to show significant limitations in practical, social and conceptual cognizance and creates a procedure for a defendant sentenced to death to file a motion to litigate the issue of intellectual disability, unless it has already resolved by the court.

Crime / Good Samaritan – Public Chapter 215 enhances penalties for murder against a person who was acting as a Good Samaritan.