FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECEMBER 12, 2007

 

METAL THEFT COMMITTEE FILES BILL

LEGISLATION FOCUSES ON SALE OF CATALYITIC CONVERTERS, AIR CONDITIONING COILS AND CONDENSERS

 

CLICK HERE for a copy of SB2400/HB2433.

 

NASHVILLE -- The General Assembly's Special Joint Committee to Study the Theft of Precious Metals today filled the bill it will introduce next session to combat the growing problem of precious metal theft in Tennessee. Among other provisions, SB2400/HB2433, sponsored by Senator Jim Kyle, D-Memphis, and Representative Mike McDonald, D-Portland, creates new processes for sellers of catalytic converters, air conditioning coils and condensers, and copper.

 

"The Joint Committee worked diligently all summer to craft a comprehensive solution to this serious problem, and we feel we accomplished that goal," Kyle said. "It is our intent to move this bill as quickly as possible once session begins next year."

 

Under the legislation, all persons engaged in the scrap metal business would be required to register with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Scrap dealers cannot purchase metal unless the seller has a state or federally issued photo id and provides a thumbprint. Dealers are required to keep detailed descriptions of each individual transaction and cannot purchase metal from anyone under the age of 18. Dealers that purchase copper, catalytic converters, and air conditioning coils and condensers are prohibited from making cash payments to the seller.

 

"Copper theft has become a huge problem across Tennessee, and this legislation effectively addresses that problem," Rep. McDonald said. "These thefts are striking business owners, homeowners, and other innocent Tennesseans, costing them hundreds of thousands of dollars."

 

For example, McDonald said, he had heard of copper waterlines being stolen from homes and from plumbers' trucks; of copper wires being stolen from electrical substations; and of copper gutters being stolen from church buildings.

 

"I've heard of a public library that had to be shut down because thieves stole the wiring from its air conditioner," he said.

 

Committee members Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, Rep. John DeBerry, D-Memphis, and Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, have joined Kyle and McDonald as co-sponsors of the bill.

 

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