KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A bill passed in the Tennessee Senate and House of Representatives would require some domestic violence offenders to wear GPS monitoring devices so survivors can tell if they are nearby.
SB 1972 specifies courts can require offenders to avoid contact with survivors and require them to wear GPS tracking devices before allowing their release on bond. It is otherwise named "The Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act." Offenders would also be required to pay the costs for the system.
Debbie Sisco and Marie Varsos are a mother and daughter from Middle Tennessee. Marie's husband shot and killed them in a 2021 murder-suicide. Previously, he had been released on bond after he was jailed for strangling Varsos.
"Those critical seconds of giving a victim the ability to know that someone is outside or near them puts them in a different space and gives them more tools. And so, we're hoping that with this new technology that's out there in Tennessee, being one of the first, that other states would follow that lead," said Alex Youn, a relative of Sisco and Varsos.
The bill would apply to people arrested for stalking, aggravated stalking or especially aggravated stalking, as well as any kind of offense specifically against another person such as assault, kidnapping or rape. Survivors would also have the chance to use an app that notifies them if offenders are near their location.
A fiscal note for the law said it would decrease state expenses by around $19,500, but increase local expenses by around $151,200.
The bill passed with unanimous support in the Senate and bipartisan support in the House. If signed by Governor Bill Lee, or allowed to become law, it would take effect on July 1.