What starts as a Messed Up complaint in March leads to a new Tennessee State Law.
It all started with a complaint from a citizen living on Rayon Drive in Old Hickory.
The question they asked me was simple:
SHOULD 8 SEX OFFENDERS BE ABLE TO LIVE IN A SINGLE HOME?
We asked that question of City Councilman Darren Jernigan who was appalled that many TBI registered sex offenders all lived on one street around families with children.
“We are doing everything we can to limit the exposure of these predators from our children and we will not let up until they are completely gone from our neighborhoods.”
Jernigan called some of his contacts on Capitol Hill and soon a Messed Up expose was at the heart of new legislation known as:
SB 3290 by *Burchett, Overbey. (*HB 3181 by *Turner M, Hardaway, Coleman, Stewart.)
The legal-speak is posted below, but in a nutshell:
No more than 2 sex offenders can live together in a private residence, and no more than 3 sex offenders can live together in a corporate treatment center, like a group home.
The law does not apply to individuals placed in residential treatment facilities by the court.
So what’s up with the 8 sex offenders on Rayon Drive. A check of the TBI sex offender website shows that 4 have moved out and 4 still remain.
Messed Up is currently investigating to see if 4 sex offenders under one roof at a group home are too many under the new law. We’ll keep you posted.
Here is the new law:
SB 3290 by *Burchett, Overbey. (*HB 3181 by *Turner M, Hardaway, Coleman, Stewart.)
Sexual Offenders - As introduced, requires all sexual offenders who are required to be on the sexual offender registry and whose victim was 15 years of age or younger to attend a class sponsored by the offender’s registering agency on the evening of October 31 of every year. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 39.
Fiscal Summary
Increase State Revenue - $3,000 Increase State Expenditures - $2,400 Increase Local Revenue - $9,400 Increase Local Expenditures - $11,900*
Bill Summary
This bill requires that any sexual offender whose primary or secondary residence is in Tennessee or who is a student in Tennessee, who is required to be on the sexual offender registry, and whose victim was 15 years of age or younger must attend a class sponsored by the offender’s registering agency on the evening of October 31 of every year. The offender will be required to pay a reasonable attendance fee for the class, which will be established by the offender’s registering agency. A violation of the October 31 meeting requirement will be a Class A misdemeanor.
ON JUNE 3, 2010, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 3290, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to prohibit any sexual or violent sexual offender who is required to be on the sexual offender registry from establishing a primary or secondary residence with two or more other such offenders. Similarly, no person, corporation or other entity may knowingly permit more than three such sexual or violent sexual offenders to establish a primary or secondary residence in any house, apartment or other habitation owned or under the control of such person, corporation or entity. This amendment would not apply to any residential treatment facility in which more than three sexual or violent sexual offenders reside following sentencing to such facility by a court or placement in such facility by the board of probation and parole for the purpose of in-house sexual offender treatment if the treatment facility complies with the guidelines and standards for the treatment of sexual offenders established by the sex offender treatment board under present
Click below for the article that started it all
We have an update on the Moldy house we featured on Riverside Drive in Bellevue.
You’ll remember the home flooded when the Harpeth over flowed its banks. The owners, under financial duress, vacated the home and so while other families cleaned up after the flood, this home remained wet and damp and now full of black mold.
The home has been vacant for months and Bank of America has indicated that it will remediate the mold issues while the home proceeds through the foreclosure process.
Kris Best alerted us to the problem and she says the bank has contacted her, apparently trying to clean up the problem
Best writes:
Thanks, Andy. I just got a call from Bank of America advising me that they had arranged for lawn care and have received quotes to perform the necessary work. I asked when the work might begin; she didn’t know the exact date but suggested that it shouldn’t be too much longer now that the bids were in. I’ll keep you posted.
A spokesperson for Bank of America sent us this note: Normally, Bank of America does not begin maintaining properties until a house has been completely foreclosed and it comes into our possession. On occasion, we become aware that a property is vacant prior to the foreclosure sale and it is at the point that Bank of America begins maintaining the home to neighborhood standards. Bank of America became aware that the property was vacant in May. With the flooding in Tennessee, it created a mold issue at this property and we have requested a contractor to go to the property and complete the work today.
Its been a cold start to the new year, but January has been a hot month in the Messed Up department. It is the end of the month, which means it is time for another edition of the Messed Up Mail Bag.
We have your comments, concerns, and updates!
RECYCLING:
We brought you a story about college student who was told he couldn’t recycle in Williamson County because his parents live in Davidson County.
Many of you had reacted like Roxanne who wrote,
“I thought the whole point of recycling was to save the planet. I didn’t realize that saving the planet is dependent on where you pay taxes and who buys what bins.”
Roxanne’s sentiment was shared by 71 percent of viewers, who voted that out of county residents should be allowed to recycle in Williamson.
POT HOLES:
That Is Messed Up also brought you a story about pot holes that can’t be fixed when it is freezing.
One New Jersey native told us that Tennessee roads are superb.
Another viewer, “lissabug,” writes:
“I agree totally with the lady from New Jersey. I have travelled on other state’s roads and TN seems to have the best interstates of any of them.”
LANE KIFFIN:
A story that generated lots of Messed Up emotion was the sudden departure of Lane Kiffin.
Chrisnd writes:
“I am ecstatic to see Lane Kiffin leave UT!!! Why would he want to stay with a “university” that has more arrests than Snoop Dogg and is currently under investigation.”
Cole20 Writes:
“what the heck is wrong with you kiffin? all of tennessee hates you now. yu are the dumbest coach tennessee ever had.”
CEMETERY:
We also delivered a story about the Nashville National Cemetery on Gallatin Road.
When this woman questioned why it is taking eight months to fix this cemetery wall by her grandparents grave, Messed Up got involved.
Since a car caused the destruction here, some of you asked us why the motorist’s insurance doesn’t pay for the repairs?
Regional Director Paul Martin tells us it is not that simple. Apparently, the insurance money doesn’t go to the cemetery, it goes into a general fund before it is distributed.
The Director tells family members to hang in there. There could be a wall repair plan developed in a few days.
PARKING MACHINES:
After documenting a broken parking machine at the Juvenile Justice Center, Messed Up goes to central parking for answers.
Regional Manager Richard Wagner pledges to fix the problems and he does.
New signs are up.
The Machine has a shelter.
Since Messed Up raised the issue, Wagner says it was determined a 2nd machine is needed and will be up and running soon.
Messed Up continues to work for results, and that does it for another edition of the Messed Up Mail Bag.
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