Criminal Justice (Public Safety)

HB 2074 requires public safety employers (like police departments, fire departments, and emergency medical services) to provide employees or job applicants with reasonable access to their full employment records, including mental health evaluation results. If a job applicant is denied employment based on a mental health screening, they must be shown the results and can request a second evaluation at their own expense. The employer must then reevaluate the applicant using the new results. This bill directly affects public safety workers and applicants in Tennessee, creating a clear process for accessing sensitive employment information.

HB 1656 increases penalties for assaulting firefighters, emergency services personnel, or other first responders who answer emergency calls. It changes the offense from a Class A misdemeanor (with a 30-day minimum jail term and $5,000 fine) to a Class E felony (with a 60-day minimum sentence and $10,000 fine). The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 39 and 40 and will take effect on July 1, 2026. This change specifically targets individuals who commit violence against emergency personnel during their duties.

SB 2032 requires Tennessee public safety employers (such as police departments, fire services, and emergency medical personnel) to provide employees and job applicants with reasonable access to their full employment records, including mental health evaluation results. If an applicant is denied employment based on a mental health evaluation, they can request the evaluation results and submit an alternative evaluation at their own expense, which the employer must review. The bill amends multiple Tennessee codes to implement these transparency requirements and allows employees to sue for violations, with the winning party recovering attorney fees. This law directly affects public safety workers and job seekers in roles involving protection of persons or property.