Amends TCA Title 16; Title 17; Title 18; Title 36 and Title 40.

Present law authorizes counties, except Davidson County, to appoint judicial commissioners. Each such judicial commissioner must complete 12 hours of continuing education each calendar year, 10 hours of which must be completed by attendance at conferences or courses sponsored or approved by the Judicial Commissioners Association of Tennessee. The remaining two hours may be completed by attendance at classes sponsored by either the Judicial Commissioners Association of Tennessee or the Tennessee Court Clerks Association, or by local in-service education. At least six hours of the total 12 hours must be taught by a person who is licensed to practice law in this state. Present law provides that any judicial commissioner who is licensed to practice law in this state is authorized to use continuing legal education credits toward completion of the 10 hours, which otherwise must be completed by attendance at conferences or courses sponsored or approved by the Judicial Commissioners Association of Tennessee. Present law also provides that all judicial commissioners must complete, as part of the 12 required hours, the following classes: (i) at least two hours concerning domestic violence or child abuse, (ii) at least one hour concerning bail and bonds, and (iii) at least one hour concerning ethics. Present law requires all counties for which judicial commissioners are appointed to provide all necessary funding for their respective judicial commissioners to complete the continuing education required by the above provisions. All records indicating satisfaction of the continuing education requirements for judicial commissioners must be maintained by each county and kept on file for at least seven years. This bill changes this provision by, instead, requiring the records to be kept on file for at least 10 years.