SEVERAL NEW LAWS WILL GO INTO EFFECT IN TENNESSEE BEGINNING JULY 1ST. TOUGHER RULES WILL BE PUT IN PLACE FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WHO COMMIT CRIMES WHILE ON THE JOB. UNDER CURRENT LAW, PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ACCUSED OF A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE DURING THEIR EMPLOYMENT CAN FILE FOR SUSPENDED PROSECUTION OR PRETRIAL DIVERSION. SUSPENDED PROSECUTION ALLOWS THE CASE TO BE PUT ON HOLD FOR SIX MONTHS AND CAN BE DISMISSED IF THERE ARE NO OTHER SIMILAR OFFENSES DURING THAT SIX MONTH PERIOD. THE NEW LAW MAKES IT SO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WHO COMMIT MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES DURING THEIR EMPLOYMENT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR SUSPENDED PROSECUTION OR PRETRIAL DIVERSION. ANOTHER NEW LAW WILL MAKE DESECRATING A PLACE OF WORSHIP OR BURIAL A FELONY. THE AMENDMENT WILL INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR INTENTIONALLY DESECRATING A PLACE OF WORSHIP OR BURIAL FROM A CLASS-A MISDEMEANOR TO A CLASS-E FELONY. AND BEGINNING JULY 1ST, CREDIT CARD COMPANIES CAN CHARGE MORE INTEREST. THE NEW LAW INCREASES THE MAXIMUM ANNUAL INTEREST RATE THAT A BANK MAY CHARGE ON CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS FROM 21% TO 30%.