Tennessee lawmakers proposed a bill they say will help target the growing issue of homelessness.

State Senate bill 1610/HB 978 would make it a Class C misdemeanor offense for a person to solicit from any public roadway, shoulder, berm, or right-of-way of a controlled-access highway or entrance or exit ramp of such highway.

Additionally, the bill would make it an offense to camp on the shoulder, berm, or right-of-way of a state or interstate highway; or camp under a bridge or overpass, or within an underpass, of a state or interstate highway.

“This is totally about public safety for all Tennessee citizens including our homeless population. We just want to make that everyone remains safe on our public roads as well as public right a-ways,” said State Senator Paul Bailey.

According to the bill, a person in violation of the legislation would receive a warning citation for a first offense.

A second or subsequent offense would be punishable by either a $50.00 fine and a sentence to 20-40 hours of community service work, or a sentence of 20-40 hours of litter removal.

Senator Bailey said the bill is not designed to send anyone to jail and it’s not a felony offense.