Safety, Dept. of

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on penalties or consequences if people do not follow these rules.

One America Act

This act requires individuals who have lived in Tennessee for over 30 days without legal status to register with and interview at the Department of Safety, receive a decision on eligibility for a one-year visa within 30 days, leave the country if eligible after receiving the visa, and apply for permanent residency if they do not commit crimes during their stay.

What This Bill Does

• Requires individuals who have lived in Tennessee for over 30 days without legal status to register with the Department of Safety.
• Requires these individuals to attend an interview with the Department of Safety within a month after registration.
• Gives the Department of Safety up to 30 days to decide if someone is eligible for a one-year visa to re-enter Tennessee and the U.S. after leaving.
• If given a one-year visa, people must leave the country for at least 90 days before returning with their visa.
• After using the one-year visa, individuals who did not commit any crimes during that time can apply for permanent residency.

Who It Names or Affects

• People living in Tennessee without legal status in the U.S. for over 30 days
• The Department of Safety

Terms To Know

One-Year Visa

A special permit that allows someone to re-enter the United States and Tennessee after leaving, valid for one year.

Permanent Resident Card

Also known as a Green Card, it gives someone permission to live permanently in the U.S. and work there legally.

Limits and Unknowns

• The act will only take effect after the federal government sets rules for how this law should be carried out.
• It is not clear what happens if people do not follow these new rules or if they commit crimes during their one-year period.

Official Summary Text

This bill requires
every person who has resided in this state for a period of more than 30

days and who is not lawfully present in the United States
to r
egister with the department of safet
y

("department")
and
s
ubmit to an interview with the department.

The department must decide within 30 days of such interview whether each such person is eligible to receive a one-year visa for re-entry into the United States and to this state and
must
promptly notify each such person of the decision.

Upon receipt of a notice of eligibility from the department,
this bill requires
an eligible person
to
depart from the United States within 90

days and remain outside the United States for a period of at least 30 days. Thereafter, the person may use the one-year visa to re-enter the United States and this state lawfully. If the eligible person completes the one-year period and does not commit
a criminal offense within such period,
then
the person
is
eligible to apply for a permanent resident card, pursuan
t to the
federal
Immigration and Nationality Act
.
A person who receives a notice from the department that such person is not eligible for a one-year visa under this
bill
must leave the United States within 30 days of the receipt of such notice.

This bill
takes effect on the
30
th
day following the occurrence of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services establishing rules and regulations providing for the implementation of this
bill
.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 2037
By Gardenhire

HOUSE BILL 1925
By Bulso
HB1925
012130
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 8 and Title 39, relative to the "One America
Act."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "One America Act."
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 20, is amended by
adding the following new section:
(a) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, every person who has resided in
this state for a period of more than thirty (30) days and who is not lawfully present in the
United States must:
(1) Register with the department of safety; and
(2) Submit to an interview with the department of safety.
(b) The department of safety must decide within thirty (30) days of such
interview whether each such person is eligible to receive a one-year visa for re-entry into
the United States and to this state and shall promptly notify each such person of the
decision.
(c) Upon receipt of a notice of eligibility from the department of safety, an eligible
person must depart from the United States within ninety (90) days and remain outside
the United States for a period of at least thirty (30) days. Thereafter, the person may
use the one-year visa to re-enter the United States and this state lawfully. If the eligible
person completes the one-year period and does not commit a criminal offense within
such period, the person shall be eligible to apply for a permanent resident card, pursuant
to the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1101 et seq.

- 2 - 012130

(d) A person who receives a notice from the department of safety that such
person is not eligible for a one-year visa under this section must leave the United States
within thirty (30) days of the receipt of such notice.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect on the thirtieth day following the occurrence of the
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services establishing rules and regulations providing
for the implementation of this act, the public welfare requiring it. The commissioner of safety
shall notify in writing the Tennessee code commission of the establishment of such occurrence
and what date is the thirtieth day following such occurrence.