NATIONAL NEWS

Prescription program to allow donation unused drugs The State Senate passed legislation this week that will allow unused prescription drugs to be donated to charitable clinics for dispensing to indigent patients. “Over $1 billion worth of unused prescription medication is destroyed every year in the United States,” Senator Joe Haynes (D-Goodlettsville) Haynes said. Senate Bill 3660 creates a pilot program in which a hospital, nursing home, home care organization, residential HIV supportive living facility, or residential hospice facility is permitted to donate non-controlled substance prescription medications to charitable clinics to be distributed free of charge to indigent patients. Legislation to expand broadband access passes The General Assembly this week approved legislation sponsored by Senator Doug Jackson (D-Dickson) that will expand access to broadband internet service. The legislation will especially benefit rural areas. SB 3427 will allow municipal utilities to provide cable and other related services. The effect of the bill is that access to broadband will be expanded as municipal utilities offer additional services to their communities. “Buckle-up in your truck” The Governor’s Highway Safety Office and law enforcement officials will be stepping up on enforcement of seatbelt laws for pickup truck drivers. Pickup truck drivers and their passengers are among those Tennesseans least likely to regularly wear their safety belts. During 2003, seventy-one percent of pickup truck occupants involved in fatal crashes were not buckled up at the time of the crash in the southeastern U.S. Eight southeastern states contain 20% of the nation’s population but represent approximately 26% of the nation’s traffic fatalities. Governor’s Highway Safety Office will announce its “Buckle Up In Your Truck” Campaign today in Nashville at 2 p.m. Public input sought for fishing regulations  The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) requests suggestions for its 2007 sport and commercial fishing regulations. Public comments will be discussed by fisheries staff and may be presented as proposals for regulation changes. Comments may submitted by mail to: TWRA Sport Fish Comments, Fisheries Management Division, P.O. 40747, Nashville, TN 37204 or emailed to twra.comment@state.tn.us  The comment period will end on May 12, 2006. Please include your expected outcome for each suggestion submitted.