Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators
Cordell Hull Building   Suite 404   Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Rep. G.A. Hardaway, Sr.
Chairman, Memphis
District 93
Sen. Raumesh Akbari
Chairwoman-Emeritus, Memphis
District 29
Rep. Rick Staples
Vice Chairman, Knoxville
District 15
Rep. London Lamar
Secretary, Memphis
District 91
Rep. Vincent Dixie
Treasurer, Nashville
District 54
Rep. Jesse Chism
Parliamentarian, Memphis
District 85
Rep. John DeBerry
Chaplain, Memphis
District 90
Rep. Antonio Parkinson
Sergeant at Arms, Memphis
District 98
Rep. Larry Miller
Memphis - District 88
Rep. Joe Towns
Memphis - District 84
Rep. Barbara Cooper
Memphis - District 86
Rep. Johnny Shaw
Bolivar - District 80
Rep. Karen Camper
Memphis - District 87
Sen. Brenda Gilmore
Nashville - District 19
Rep. Harold M. Love, Jr.
Nashville - District 58
Sen. Katrina Robinson
Memphis - District 33
Rep. Yusuf Hakeem
Chattanooga - District 28
(615) 741-5625 Office   (615) 253-0185 Fax
(901) 949-1000 Cell
May 18, 2020
The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators (TBCSL) strongly
encourages all Tennesseans to get tested for the COVID-19 virus as soon
as possible and as often as possible. However, the TBCSL remains
adamantly opposed to the TN Department of Health’s practice of
unnecessarily violating the individual privacy rights of our citizens, by
sharing personal health information with law enforcement agencies,
which would be otherwise protected by HIPPA.
Among those patriots who harbor mistrust of law enforcements’
unconstitutional access to private health information are the currently
underserved populations, who are most at risk for negative health
outcomes. Many Tennesseans remain reluctant to test for the COVID-19
virus, fearing that the state and county health departments will share the
name and addresses of those citizens who test positive for the COVID-19
virus with outside agencies.
These groups are necessary to complete the random sampling data set;
and through random sampling, the integrity of the statistical data gathered
by the state and county health departments remains questionable at best.
We urge Governor Bill Lee to act quickly to rescind the constitutionally
suspect MOU’s; thereby encouraging full participation in COVID-19
testing by all Tennesseans. Without adequate and statistically sound data,
safely reopening our businesses and the economy, restructuring our
schools and educational system, restoring our justice system, etc. remain
elusive goals at best.
Until Governor Lee rescinds his order which allows the TN Department
of Health to enter into MOU’s with law enforcement agencies with whom
the department shares the names and addresses of citizens who test
positive for COVID-19, we suggest that those citizens who wish to
protect their privacy should only provide their city, state and zip code. We
do not advise citizens to provide their street address information to the
testing agencies at this time. We do advise citizens to continue to provide
their phone numbers and email addresses.
Providing basic address information should allow the demographic
collections and analyses that allow the proper reallocation of resources to
address the reduction and elimination of health disparities, especially in
communities of color and economically distressed populations.
 Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators
Cordell Hull Building   Suite 404   Nashville, Tennessee 37243
(615) 741-5625 Office   (615) 253-0185 Fax
(901) 949-1000 Cell

This is a temporary fix, in lieu of either a voluntary revocation of the

Rep. G.A. Hardaway, Sr.
Chairman, Memphis
MOU’s by Governor Lee, or the initiation of legal action to enforce our
District 93 federal and state constitutional guarantees of the individual privacy rights
enjoyed by all Tennesseans.
Sen. Raumesh Akbari
Chairwoman-Emeritus, Memphis
District 29 Private health information should only be shared on a need to know basis.
The only agencies that may need to know the complete list of addresses of
Rep. Rick Staples those who test positive, are the local 911 emergency communications
Vice Chairman, Knoxville
District 15
agencies. The only information the local 911 emergency communications
agencies may need are addresses, no names.
Rep. London Lamar
Secretary, Memphis
District 91
T.C.A. 58-2-107 grants the Governor the authority to suspend statutory
laws and rules. The Governor is not empowered by the constitution nor by
Rep. Vincent Dixie statute to suspend the constitution.
Treasurer, Nashville
District 54
We can’t properly manage the COVID-19 crisis until we adequately
Rep. Jesse Chism measure the COVID-19 virus.
Parliamentarian, Memphis The TBCSL urges every citizen to protect your health and manage your
District 85
health outcomes by immediate and frequent testing.
Rep. John DeBerry
Chaplain, Memphis The TBCSL urges every citizen to protect your constitutional rights and
District 90 manage your private health information by providing only the minimal
Rep. Antonio Parkinson address information i.e. city, state and zip code.
Sergeant at Arms, Memphis
District 98 The TBCSL urges every citizen to get tested as soon as possible.
Rep. Larry Miller
The TBCSL urges every citizen to get tested as often as possible.
Memphis - District 88

Rep. Joe Towns

Memphis - District 84

Rep. Barbara Cooper

Memphis - District 86

Rep. Johnny Shaw

Bolivar - District 80

Rep. Karen Camper

Memphis - District 87

Sen. Brenda Gilmore

Nashville - District 19

Rep. Harold M. Love, Jr.

Nashville - District 58

Sen. Katrina Robinson

Memphis - District 33

Rep. Yusuf Hakeem

Chattanooga - District 28
TBCSL
“A STATE NETWORK FOR POLITICAL EQUALITY”