AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 44, relative to indemnification for destroyed animals.
Summary
SB2026 amends Tennessee law governing indemnification for animals destroyed under authority of Title 44. The bill directs the commissioner to establish rules and procedures for paying indemnities and specifies that compensation should be based on, but not limited to, the animal’s fair market value and the availability of funds. If available funds are insufficient, the commissioner may provide partial reimbursement instead of full fair market value, and indemnification may be denied when the owner is found to be in violation of the chapter.
The bill also makes clear that it is not itself an appropriation. No money may be obligated or spent under the act unless the General Assembly specifically appropriates funds in the general appropriations act. The measure takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Impact
This bill would revise Tennessee Code Annotated Section 44-2-105 to give the commissioner more explicit authority over how indemnity payments are calculated and administered when animals are destroyed under the chapter. It adds flexibility by allowing partial reimbursement when funding is limited and by permitting denial of payments for noncompliant owners. The bill affects livestock or animal owners who may be eligible for state indemnity, as well as the department responsible for administering the program, while preserving legislative control over actual spending through the appropriations process.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong support for the bill at each stage, with unanimous or near-unanimous committee approval and a 30-0 floor vote on third consideration. The absence of recorded opposition in the provided materials suggests the measure was viewed favorably and as a practical administrative update rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
No committee transcript is provided, and the recorded votes show no nays, so there is no documented substantive opposition in the available materials. The only likely policy tension is between providing fair compensation to owners of destroyed animals and limiting state liability when funds are insufficient or when an owner has violated the chapter. The appropriations limitation also reflects a fiscal safeguard that may have been important to supporters and budget reviewers.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 14; Title 40, Chapter 39; Title 43; Title 44 and Title 53, relative to the treatment of animals.