Committee advances Safe at Home update to calendar and rules with unanimous vote

The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday unanimously voted to advance House Bill 15 52 to calendar and rules. The bill, described by the sponsor as a Secretary of State bill updating the Safe at Home program, passed the committee 19-0.

Sponsor Chairman Powers said the bill does three things: allow a sibling to be a co-applicant, clarify that a victim moving to Tennessee from another state does not need a separate Tennessee order of protection to enroll, and add last year’s persistent domestic violence offender registry to the program’s exclusions. "The Safe at Home program provides victims of domestic violence and other crimes a substitute address so that an abuser cannot discover a victim's home through public records," the sponsor stated.

Committee members praised the program as a beneficial, longstanding service for victims. The clerk recorded 19 ayes and 0 nos on the motion to send the bill to calendar and rules.

Next step: HB 15 52 will appear on the committee’s calendar and proceed through legislative consideration consistent with the House rules.