---
type: "Bill"
title: "Jails, Local Lock-ups - As enacted, removes the specification that a sheriff is civilly liable for the actions of a jailer who was hired by the sheriff. - Amends TCA Title 41, Chapter 4."
description: "Jails, Local Lock-ups - As enacted, removes the specification that a sheriff is civilly liable for the actions of a jailer who was hired by the sheriff. - Amends TCA Title 41, Chapter 4."
jurisdiction: "us/states/tn"
legislature: "Tennessee General Assembly"
session: "110"
identifier: "SB 603"
citation: "Tennessee SB 603 (110)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["Jails", "Local Loc"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Massey", "Smith"]
version_count: 1
action_count: 37
vote_count: 2
first_action: "2017-02-07"
last_action: "2017-05-23"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/e6d1a79c-7a6a-4a68-8bb0-05b70438590f"
source_url: "http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0603&GA=110"
source_hash: "c5effc4bbdf039f258f927378bd8a22393f7322212fb9f770ed9bded8e6dc9b4"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-tn"]
---

# Tennessee SB 603 (110) — Jails, Local Lock-ups - As enacted, removes the specification that a sheriff is civilly liable for the actions of a jailer who was hired by the sheriff. - Amends TCA Title 41, Chapter 4.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Current Version** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/110/Bill/SB0603.pdf)

## Votes

- SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee 4/18/2017 Passed (1) — **8–1** (pass) · upper
- FLOOR VOTE: THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/26/2017 Passed — **28–1** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Massey — primary (person)
- Smith — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2017-02-07** Filed for introduction `introduction, reading-1`
- **2017-02-07** Filed for intro. `introduction, reading-1`
- **2017-02-08** Introduced, Passed on First Consideration `introduction`
- **2017-02-08** Intro., P1C. `introduction`
- **2017-02-09** Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
- **2017-02-09** P2C, ref. to Civil Justice Committee `referral-committee`
- **2017-02-17** Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee `referral-committee`
- **2017-03-01** Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/8/2017
- **2017-03-08** Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/15/2017
- **2017-03-08** Action Def. in s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee to 3/15/2017
- **2017-03-15** Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/22/2017
- **2017-03-15** Meeting Cancelled. Action Def. in s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee to 3/22/17
- **2017-03-22** Taken off notice for cal in s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee of Civil Justice Committee
- **2017-03-29** Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 4/5/2017
- **2017-04-05** Placed on cal. Civil Justice Committee for 4/12/2017
- **2017-04-05** Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Civil Justice Committee `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2017-04-11** Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2017-04-13** Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/18/2017
- **2017-04-13** Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in S. Judiciary Comm. 4-18-17
- **2017-04-18** Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
- **2017-04-24** Placed on Senate Regular Calendar calendar for 4/26/2017
- **2017-04-26** Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
- **2017-04-26** Passed Senate, Ayes 28, Nays 1 `passage`
- **2017-04-27** Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- **2017-05-02** Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 5/2/2017
- **2017-05-03** H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 5/4/2017
- **2017-05-04** Passed H., Ayes 88, Nays 0, PNV 2 `passage`
- **2017-05-04** Subst. for comp. HB.
- **2017-05-04** Comp. SB subst.
- **2017-05-05** Enrolled and ready for signatures
- **2017-05-09** Signed by H. Speaker
- **2017-05-09** Signed by Senate Speaker
- **2017-05-11** Transmitted to Governor for action.
- **2017-05-19** Signed by Governor. `executive-signature`
- **2017-05-23** Pub. Ch. 401
- **2017-05-23** Effective date(s) 05/18/2017
- **2017-05-23** Comp. became Pub. Ch. 401

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/e6d1a79c-7a6a-4a68-8bb0-05b70438590f`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Tennessee legislature records).