On May 20th, 2004, the Tennessee legislature passed the Burchett-Rinks bill.  PROTECT worked on this bill with actor and PROTECT National Advisory Board member David Keith and a coalition of Tennessee prosecutors and volunteers.

PROTECT salutes Senator Tim Burchett and Representative Randy Rinks.  The charismatic Senator Burchett didn't just sponsor this bill… he fought hard for it.  And Rep. Rinks lent his significant power in Nashville to the effort.  Thanks to these two—and to the bulldog efforts of super-lobbyist David Keith—a bill that wasn't given much chance early this spring ended up with a list of co-sponsors an arm long.

Special thanks and admiration goes to Assistant District Attorney General Marsha Mitchell, who has worked on this legislation for a decade, never letting up.  Also at the forefront of this fight was Assistant District Attorney General Brian Holmgren and District Attorney General Randy Nichols.  We are also tremendously grateful to Dick and Linda Willey, highly respected advocates for Tennessee's children, who lent their personal time and effort to get this bill made law for the sake of kids in criminal child abuse cases.

PROTECT also extends our respect and thanks to fellow member and Tennessean Jason Tippitt, whose creative, under-the-radar grassroots work will long be remembered.

The Burchett-Rinks bill is a story that speaks volumes about the lack of political clout for children in America.  The bill was modest, reasonable and important—three things that should have guaranteed easy passage.  Yet, similar bills had been killed in earlier sessions… and this legislation looked like it was headed for trouble.  Opponents appeared to have little concern over openly opposing the bill.

Then something changed.  David Keith appeared on the steps in front of the Tennessee legislature, with a firebrand speech and a radio ad that invoked the memory of Elvis Presley.  Overnight, votes began falling into place, as elected officials reflected on the wisdom of opposing popular legal reform in the face of real political muscle.

The Burchett-Rinks bill is one small step for Tennessee child abuse prosecutors and child crime victims.  But it is a giant leap in the political clout of those who want to see Tennessee children protected under law.