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Proposed bill would fund pre-K with Sunday wine sales

Senate Bill 1968 proposes requiring the Tennessee Department of Education to use money in a fund set up through the passage of the bill to establish a scholarship program to provide access to pre-K for children from low-income families.

A Memphis lawmaker is proposing to use tax money from a proposed law that would allow Sunday wine sales to fund the expansion of pre-kindergarten.

Sen. Lee Harris, D-Memphis, is sponsoring the bill that he says would fund increased access statewide for children from low-income families.

RELATED: Wine and liquor sales on Sunday? Tennessee lawmakers are trying to make it happen

Senate Bill 1968 proposes requiring the Tennessee Department of Education to use money in a fund set up through the passage of the bill to establish a scholarship program to provide access to pre-K for children from low-income families.

"This bill is about priorities," Harris said in a statement. "The legislature is going to take up Sunday-sales of wine this year. This bill simply says if Sunday-sales pass, we are going to use the tax revenue generated to fund more pre-k classrooms for those kids who need it most."

This year's wine sales bill is the second time in two years that a bill permitting its sale on Sundays has been filed. And it comes less than two years after Tennessee grocery stores were permitted to sell wine.

Consumers celebrated the measure, but wine and liquor store owners fought against it, fearing revenue declines.

Memphis' and Nashville's school districts, especially, have a large number of students participating in pre-K programs. The two districts were awarded a $70 million federal grant to expand their pre-K efforts.

Across Tennessee, pre-K programs are voluntary, and there are many low-income students outside of Nashville and Memphis schools.

"Many of us have been working on this effort, but a solution has always seemed just out of reach," Harris said in the statement. "The new revenue that will be generated from Sunday sales is an opportunity to expand investment in early childhood education."

The bill is expected to be heard in the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 6.

Reach Jason Gonzales at jagonzales@tennessean.com and on Twitter @ByJasonGonzales.

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