2017 Veterans Legislative Day

On

Tennessee’s Capitol Hill

Nashville, Tennessee

February 8, 2017

Official

Preparation Package

2

Table of Contents

Topic Section page

Purpose of Legislative Day 3

Operational Plan for Feb 17, 2016 3-6

Dress

Arrival/Check-in

Security Scan & In-processing

Legislator Scheduling

Lunch

Departure

Tips for in-person visits with elected officials

Detailed bill topics you will be lobbying for

1) Restoring Property Tax Exemption For Disabled Vets 7-8

2) Hiring Preferences for Veterans/Spouses/Survivors 8-9

Hand Bill/Leave Behind Document 10

Attachment 1 Car/bus/van parking map location 11

Attachment 2 Bus/Shuttle/Van Drop-off 12

Attachment 2a Bus/Shuttle/Van Drop-off 13

Attachment 3 WMB Entrance Access Viewpoints 14

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Purpose of Legislative Day

Most active duty and veterans are aware of the numerous proposed laws originated at the national level. Pay,

medical, base services and many other issues are debated annually in the halls of Congress. However, state

governments consider and pass laws each year that affect this same population.

Similar to Congress, state capitols are full of lobbyists, special interest groups and regular citizens that work to

support/reject laws that impact them. Many laws are affected by the “financial pot”, from which all revenue is

poured into, and portioned out for funding. The “pot” is finite in size and in order for one group to get a slightly

bigger portion; some else’s portion may shrink. Groups with interest in the legislative actions at the state

capitol, such as educators, farmers and cities, set one day each year in which they make a concentrated effort to

meet with legislators on issues and their possible funding. While they may not always be successful in getting

the support they want one year, they build communication links to address issues in future years.

Last year was the first effort to bring members from ALL veterans groups to the Capitol to voice their concerns

with legislators. Past years have seen individual veteran groups work the legislative process and be successful.

Much is owed to their efforts. However, recent history and efforts in other states shows that a joining of ALL

veterans groups is now needed to increase the possibility of legislative success. In 2016, about 200 veterans

from across the state came and spent the day in meetings with legislators and attended legislative committee

meetings. Legislative Day is ONLY one part of the effort to work the issues of our veterans. Weeks

afterwards, groups of veterans continued to attend and speak before legislative committees on the veteran bills

of interest/need. These efforts were rewarded with the income means test ($60,000 income limit install during

the 2015 legislative session) being removed from 100% disabled veterans (permanent and total) on property tax

exemptions. This year will see an effort to restore a FULL property value tax exemption of $175,000 for those

same veterans. This exemption was reduced to $100,000 two legislative sessions ago. Many legislators vowed

to work with veterans this year and restore the full amount. We will also be working for passage of veteran-

hiring preference legislation for private business, which is a law that approximately three-dozen other states

already authorize. These are reasons why you need to attend Legislative Day.

As veterans you have served your country to protect the rights and freedoms we have. It is your right and

freedom to participate in the legislative processes you defended. We look forward to seeing you in Nashville.

Operational Plan For February 8, 2017

Dress. It will be a long day so dress comfortably. However, first impressions count! We suggest as a

minimum, slacks and shirt and if you wish to wear a suit and tie, sports coat, or nice dress and jacket…please do

so. We will operate primarily out of the War Memorial Hall, which is adjacent to the legislative offices you

will be visiting. However, there is no secure area to leave briefcases, purses, coats or umbrellas. So please take

into consideration what you may have to carry around as you conduct your visit.

Also, we want the legislators to easily recognize the veterans that come to visit. If your organization has outer

wear such as hats, vests, name/organizational tags or pins or if you have the baseball type hats that proclaim you

are a veteran of a particular group, war(s) or retired Army, AF, etc…then wear them to this event. Legislators

with past military backgrounds/experience encourage this. Being seen as a veteran in the halls of Legislative

Plaza will be just as important as talking with our elected leaders.

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Arrival/Check-in. We know that many of you will drive/ride some distance to attend this event. Therefore,

we have tried to be flexible in getting you in and on your way to visit legislators. Here is how it will operate:

1) Arrive at the War Memorial Bldg. (WMB) between 8am - 9:30am on Feb 8.

If you drive: We have arranged FREE parking at Titan football (Nissan) stadium. See attachment 1 for a

map/directions to the stadium, using Lot D to park in. Upon arrival at Lot D you will be given a parking pass to

place on your car dash. From the stadium you will be shuttled to WMB for check-in. Shuttles will be running

on schedules during the day to provide you with access to and from your vehicle and WMB. It may take 5-10

minutes to shuttle you from the parking area to the entrance of WMB when the doors open at 8am. Traffic is

heavy going into the Nashville in the mornings. Please take this into consideration in making your travel plans

by adding 15-20 minutes to get our parking via any Interstate (I-24/40). You may start parking at 7:30am at

stadium Lot D. At approximately 7:45am the first shuttle will arrive to take you to WMB. We plan on the

morning shuttle service to end NLT 10am and restart by 2pm.

IF you ride a bus or van: Buses/Vans will drop riders directly at the WMB entrance on 7th

Ave N. first (see

attach 2 & 2a) and then proceed to the same Nissan Stadium parking lot (D) as the car drivers were instructed

above (attach 1). Buses/vans need to add 15-20 minutes to any schedule to get you through the morning rush at

Nashville. The address for the WMB is 301 Sixth Ave. N. Nashville TN 37243. Parking meters will be covered

to allow a zone for bus/van passenger unloading on 7th Ave.N. You will enter WMB for in-processing from the

7th Ave.N. access steps (see attach #3). Buses/van shall reload riders between 3:30-4pm for your return trip at

the 7th Ave.N access steps. BE SURE TO GET ATTACHMENTS 1, 2, 2a & 3 TO YOUR DRIVER

2) In-processing, Security Scan.

BRING SOME FORM OF PICTURE ID!!! Your military ID or Drivers License will do. Upon

arrival/entering the War Memorial Bldg., you will go directly to in-processing. You will see tables setup to in-

process you. Here are the steps to get you in-processed:

A) You will be directed to tables (Station 1) where you will line-up to fill out a form to aid us in getting you to

your legislator meeting. You will provide full name, address and the names of your senate and house legislator

on this form. Please research who your state elected senator and house representative are before arriving.

B) If you are still unsure who are your elected representatives upon arrival, we will direct you to a table with

computers and assistants that can look up that information for you and post it to your form (Station #2).

C) After your elected officials have been confirmed you will be directed to the last table (Station #3). Here you

provide your form to the desk volunteer and the time and room location of where your legislator meeting will

take place will be written on your form. You will keep the form as a reminder of who, when and where your

meeting will take place. We will have maps of the Legislative Plaza and the War Memorial Bldg. and

volunteers/guides to help you find the meeting rooms.

After in-processing, you will have some free time to sit, get coffee, donuts, fruit and catch your breath. At

approximately 9:35am we will make any needed announcements. You will enter WMB without having to go

through security. When you go downstairs/elevator to attend your meetings in the attached Legislative Plaza,

the Tennessee State Troopers will “wand” you for security purposes as you exit the stairs or elevator from the

WMB Hall. Unlike last year, you will not have to enter/wait outside the building for a security scan.

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3) Legislative Scheduling

We have been informed that the Senate and/or House may hold a full membership meeting in their Capitol

chambers that morning. Veterans will be invited to attend if this occurs. We will be flexible on this event, as

any such chamber meeting may not be scheduled until a day or two before our event. We will work to keep you

posted through your veteran organization and our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Veteransdayonthehill/).

We fully expect that sub-committee or committee conferences will take place throughout the day and you are

welcome to sit in and observe. We will not know those meetings times or room locations until your arrival. It is

possible that a committee meeting could be talking about veteran or military issues. Being seen at any of these

meetings lets legislators know you are “in the house” and observing the process. Veterans sitting in and

watching these meetings can have a very influential effect.

4) Legislator-Veteran Meetings….Starting at 10am

The whole purpose of “Veterans Day On The Hill” is to allow you to meet your House and Senate member and

ask him/her for support on the two primary veteran bills that are being sponsored this legislative session. Your

veteran organization leaders approved support of two specific bills several months ago. You will find

information on these bills on pages 7-9 of this package. Please study these bills and the associated information

provided. Legislators will have a copy of the bills and should be prepared to answer any questions you have or

get back to you if additional research is needed for an answer.

Meetings will start at 10am and continue throughout the day. The in-processing form you completed upon

arrival will have your legislators’ names, meeting times and room locations. Unlike last year, where we asked

you to set up a meeting with your legislators, we have set them up for you this year. The meetings are set up by

senate district. There will be 33 meetings scheduled for that day, as there are 33 state senate districts. Thus, all

veterans living within a particular senate district will all attend the same meeting. Your house representative

and any other representatives whose districts fall within your senator’s district will also be in that same meeting.

So the meeting you attend will have your senator and likely three (3) house members in attendance; one of

which should be your house representative. For most veterans to meet both their senator and house

representatives will require attending only one meeting. It is possible, due to how house district boundaries are

drawn that you may have to attend two meetings to meet both your senator and house member. Thus, you may

meet two senators and several house representatives and many others, if you wish.

As regular legislative business is taking place that day, plus there may be an additional group or two visiting

legislative plaza for political purposes, some legislators may be pressed for time and unable to make the

meeting we scheduled. Usually in these instances the legislator will send a representative (staffer) from their

office to attend. These staffers are the “eyes and ears” of the legislator. They have good information and are

excellent at being a conduit for communications. So, if your legislator is unable to attend a meeting due to

circumstances beyond his/her control, be assured you are in good hands with their legislative staffer.

Meetings will be NO longer than 20 minutes with 5 minutes allowed between meetings for people to leave and

enter the room for the next legislative meeting. Remember we have 33 meetings to conduct on a limited

timeline. If you want to talk more with your legislator, please do so outside the meeting room or at their office.

5) Lunch. Due to donations provide to our Legislative Day on the Hill (We thank the Tennessee Dept. of

Veteran Services and Senator Mark Green for providing this) lunch will be provided for up to 500 attendees.

Lunch will be in the WMB Hall from 11:00am – 1:00pm. During lunch we may have several dignitaries stop

by and speak to veterans along with members of the legislature sitting down with you for lunch. Feel free to

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talk about the veteran bills or any other topics of legislative interest to you. This will be “free” time to just get

to talk and know the legislators that may join us.

6) Other Activities. We are planning to have two guided tours of the Capitol and Legislative Plaza for

those who may have never been to the Capitol. We also hope to have some photo opportunities with veterans

and the governor and Commissioner of Veteran Services. If schedules work out, we will announce those at the

morning session. A traveling version of the “Tennessee Vietnam Memorial Wall” will also be at this event.

The “Wall” will be at the Capitol/Legislative Plaza/WMB area for several days before and after our event.

7) Departure. Most, if not all, legislative/veteran meetings will be finished no later than 3:30pm. Due to

travel considerations we will be scheduling those whose legislators represent the mid-state area toward the

beginning of the day’s meetings. This will allow those traveling from further away in East and West Tennessee

a bit more time in case traffic is bad or other conditions delay your arrival. However, we still need everyone to

strive to arrive between 8-9:30am central time. We need to free our in-processing volunteers to help with other

duties in making your visit and meeting the best possible.

8) Tips for personal visits with elected officials

A. If the legislator is unavailable, you will meet with staffer. Sometimes meeting with a staffer is almost as

good as meeting with a legislator. (We can vouch that these staffers are excellent)

B. Be courteous but don’t apologize for expressing your viewpoint. You have a right to meet and try to

influence your elected officials and other government officials.

C. Remember you are building a relationship and a representative for our veterans. Unless you really are a close

friend, introduce yourself every time you meet and when possible wear group identification.

D. If you already know the elected official or at least have met them, make sure you tell them and remind them

of how you know them.

E. Tell them if you are a constituent. (Since we arranged the meeting, you are likely a constituent)

F. For our groups we have a spokesperson to facilitate and keep the meeting moving. The spokesman will get

introductions started, provide a handout sheet to legislators on bills of interest, and open the discussions for all

to join in. The spokesman will stop the meeting after 20 minutes, if needed.

8. Provide short, clear information --not jargon or technical terms! Best points only, written and oral.

9. Don’t threaten, burn bridges, attack the legislator for his/her record, or disparage government or politics.

(PLEASE READ AND HEED THIS). The legislator that may not agree with you this year may be your

strongest supporter next year. The legislature meets every year and there will be future “Veterans Day On The

Hill” meetings and you want to leave each in a cordial working atmosphere.

10. Ask for a vote (or general support if that is more appropriate) for your position. But remember it’s

legitimate for elected officials to reserve judgment on a bill until they have had time to consider.

11. Thank the legislator for meeting with you and follow oral thanks with a written note or email.

Legislative Bill Topics You Will Discussing With Legislators

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1. Title: Veterans – property tax relief – restore $175,000 property exemption for disabled Vets

Issue: During 2015’s legislative session, income limitations of $60,000 were established (there were no

limitations before) and lower market value home property exemptions (from $175,000 to $100,000) were

instituted in calculating property tax relief by the state for disabled veterans. These changes resulted in

previously qualified disabled veterans having to pay hundreds of additional dollars a year in property taxes. In

the 2016 legislative session and during our first Veterans Day On The Hill reversing these changes were among

our priorities. We were successful in eliminating the income limits and fought for restoring the $175,000

property tax exemption up to the last day of the session, but failed. However, we did gain legislative support

and return this year to restore the $175,000 exemption.

Bill Number(s) and Sponsors supporting restoring $175,000 exemption:

SB0023/HB0020 - Sen. Green & Rep. Pitts; SB0021/HB0023 - Sen. Green & Rep. Hill; SB0025/HB0005 –

Sen. Green & Rep Ragan

Abstract: As introduced, these bills reestablish the first portion of home value for which real property tax

relief will be reimbursed to disabled veteran homeowners from $100,000 to $175,000. Amends Tennessean

Code Annotated (TCA) Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 7

Below are two examples of the bills being sponsored to restore the $175,000 for disabled veterans:

HOUSE BILL 20

By Pitts

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 7, relative to tax relief.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: SECTION 1.

Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-5-702, is amended by deleting the

language “twenty-three thousand five hundred dollars ($23,500)” wherever it appears and substituting instead

the language “twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000)”.

SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-5-703, is amended by deleting the language “twenty-three

thousand five hundred dollars ($23,500)” wherever it appears and substituting instead the language “twenty-five

thousand dollars ($25,000)”.

SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-5-704(a), is amended by deleting the language “one

hundred thousand dollars ($100,000)” wherever it appears and substituting instead the language “one hundred

seventy-five thousand dollars ($175,000)”.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

HOUSE BILL 5

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By Ragan

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 7, relative to tax relief.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: SECTION 1.

Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-5-704(a), is amended by deleting

the language “one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000)” wherever it appears and substituting instead the

language “one hundred seventy-five thousand dollars ($175,000)”.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

2. Title: Veterans – Hiring Preferences for Veterans, Spouses and widows/widowers

Issue: Veterans that honorably retired or finish their enlistment have high numbers of unemployment. The

military has encouraged states to offer programs/legislation to promote and aid veteran employment and that of

spouses and widows/widowers. In 2015 Rep. Pitts and Sen. Green sponsored bills to allow/authorize private

employers to establish hiring preferences without running into issues with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title

VII). The bill would aid honorably discharge veterans, spouse of a veteran with service-connected disability,

un-remarried widow or widower of a veteran that dies of a service-connected disability or died in the line of

duty.

The effort to pass this law died in committee in 2015 and was not brought forth during the 2016 legislative

session. ( http://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/news/local/clarksville/2015/03/03/state-committee-kills-

veteran-hiring-preference-bill/24348053/ )

States that have veteran hiring preference*: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois,

Indiana, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,

Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South

Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming.

* List is not 100% inclusive as some states may be still in consideration of such legislation

Bill Number(s) and Sponsors: (Awaiting Bill number assignment) Sen. Green & Rep Pitts

Abstract: State Law Affected: TCA Title 4, Chapter 21, Part 4; Title 50; Title 58. The eligible veteran or

member of a veteran would submit a copy of the DD214 form of the veteran to the employer that provides a

veteran’s preference employment policy as proof.

Below is the example of the bill that is being sponsored to provide veteran hiring preferences:

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AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 50, Chapter 1, Part 1,

relative to hiring preferences.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 50, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by adding the

following as a new section:

(a) A private employer may adopt an employment policy that gives preference in hiring to:

(1) An honorably discharged veteran;

(2) The spouse of a veteran with a service-connected disability;

(3) The unremarried widow or widower of a veteran who died of a service-connected

disability; or

(4) The unremarried widow or widower of a member of the United States armed forces

who died in the line of duty.

(b) A private employer adopting a veterans preference shall have the policy in writing and may

require submission of a certificate of release or discharge from active duty, department of defense form

214 (DD 214), as proof of eligibility for the veterans preference employment policy.

(c) A policy adopted pursuant to subsection (a) must be applied uniformly to employment

decisions regarding hiring and promotion.

(d) The preferences authorized by this section are not considered violations of any state or local

equal employment opportunity law.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

On the following page you will see the handout that will be provided to legislators as to why you are visiting

with them and as a reminder sheet of the two bills that veterans are placing emphasis on this year in the

legislative session. This does not preclude that other important military and veteran bills will also be considered

during the session, but we want to ensure these pieces of legislation are very important for veterans.

VETERANS OF TENNESSEE – LEGISLATIVE VISIT FEB. 8, 2017

HANDOUT

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VETERAN REPRESENTATIVES VISITING TODAY ARE FROM THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS/CHAPTERS

AND REPRESENT THE MEMBERSHIP OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VETERANS ACROSS TENNESSEE

MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, MONTGOMERY COUNTY CONSOLIDATED VETERANS

ORGANIZATION, DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, WOMEN VETERANS OF

AMERICA, VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA, AMERICAN LEGION, GOLDSTAR WIVES, CENTERSTONE,

PURPLE HEART, OPERATION STANDDOWN, 19TH

JUDICIAL DISTRICT, TEAM RED WHITE & BLUE,

UNIFORMED SERVICES DISABLED RETIREES, ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, BUFFALO

SOLDIERS ASSOCIATION, MARINE CORP LEAGUE, TRIPLE NICKEL ASSOCIATION, COUNTY VETERAN

SERVICE OFFICES, MASONIC SERVICES ASSOCIATION

Tennessee has a long tradition of recognizing and honoring the duty and sacrifice of those who served the

United States military. We thank the honorable members of the Tennessee legislature in these efforts and ask

for your continued support of legislation that recognizes the sacrifice of Tennessee veterans and their families.

Veterans respectfully ask for your consideration and support for the following bills:

1. Legislation/Issue: Veteran – Restoration of Full Property Tax Relief for Disabled

Veterans

Request your favorable consideration and vote to restore the $175,000 property tax exemption for

100% disabled veterans. This action is referenced in TCA Title 67 and cited in cosponsored bills

such as SB0023/HB0020 - Sen. Green & Rep. Pitts; SB0021/HB0023 - Sen. Green & Rep. Hill;

SB0025/HB0005 – Sen. Green & Rep Ragan

2015 legislative action revised property tax relief laws affecting qualified 100% disabled veterans.

TCA Title 67, Ch. 5, Pt. 7 sections were amended lowering property market value from $175,000 to

$100,000 in calculations utilized for property tax relief.

Tennessee County Trustees cite hundreds of dollars in increased tax burden upon these veterans.

2. Legislation/Issue: Veteran – Veteran Hiring Preference Options For Private Employers

Request your favorable consideration and vote to authorize private business owners to establish

veteran hiring preferences, if they should desire to do so. This action is referenced in several

sections of TCA and cited in cosponsored bills such as (at the time of publishing this prep package

the bill number had not been assigned) – Sen. Green & Rep. Pitts

Unemployment among all categories of veterans continues to be issue within the United States.

Almost three dozen states (five that border Tennessee) have passed or in the process of passing various

preferences or tax incentives to assist/encourage private employers to hire veterans

An effort to provide such preferences was attempted in 2015 and died in the Consumer and Human

Resources Subcommittee committee.

TCA Title 50, Ch. 1, Pt. 1, would be amended to reflect such preferences.

Attachment 1

Car/Bus/Van Parking Lot Map

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If you come via I-24/40 look for the Shelby Street exits, which will take you to S. 2nd

St and the

Lot D entrance. You will be given a parking permit, as you enter the lot, that should be placed

on the dash of your car so security will know you are there for Veterans Day On The Hill.

For the Google Map view load the following website address in your broswer to aid you in

finding the stadium and parking:

www.google.com/maps/@36.1656937,-86.7671861,833m/data=!3m1!1e3

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Attachment 2

Bus, Van & Shuttle Drop Off Points

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Attachment 2a Bus, Van & Shuttle Drop Off Points

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Attachment 3 WMB Entrance Access Viewpoints

Union St. view of the ADA drop-off point that will lead you to a side door access.

7th Ave.N. view of the Bus and Van drop-off for walk-in access