Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HB0641 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	SENATE BILL 450
3	3	By Massey
4	4
5	5	HOUSE BILL 641
6	6	By Carringer
7	7
8	8
9	9	HB0641
10	10	002086
11	11	- 1 -
12	12
13	13	AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9;
14	14	Title 12; Title 37; Title 39 and Title 49, relative to
15	15	funding of child advocacy centers.
16	16
17	17	WHEREAS, child advocacy centers have played a vital role for the last thirty years in the
18	18	State of Tennessee to meet the needs of at-risk, neglected, and abused children; and
19	19	WHEREAS, Tennessee was the first state in the nation to require a child advocacy
20	20	center in each judicial district setting the standard for the care of abused children; and
21	21	WHEREAS, Tennessee has a long history of leading the nation in the fight against child
22	22	abuse and neglect; and
23	23	WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 9-4-213, which was originally enacted
24	24	by Chapter 988 of the Public Acts of 1988 during the 100th General Assembly, clearly outlines
25	25	the requirements of a child advocacy center in order to meet funding requirements; and
26	26	WHEREAS, we, the members of the General Assembly, find that funding for all child
27	27	advocacy centers' contracts has remained stagnant since 1999, resulting in increased pressure
28	28	on these centers; and
29	29	WHEREAS, collectively, the child advocacy centers served over 32,000 children in 2024
30	30	with forensic interviews, victim advocacy, medical exams, and mental health clinical services;
31	31	and
32	32	WHEREAS, the critical role of child advocacy centers and their staff play an integral role
33	33	of bringing help, healing, and hope to thousands of child victims each year; and
34	34	WHEREAS, child advocacy centers support the work of the Department of Children's
35	35	Services, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and provide crucial support to the
36	36
37	37
38	38	- 2 - 002086
39	39
40	40	district attorneys general in each judicial district to aid in the prosecution of crimes against
41	41	children; and
42	42	WHEREAS, both the 112th and 113th General Assemblies appropriated one-time funds
43	43	expecting the Department of Children's Services to increase funding to all child advocacy
44	44	centers; and
45	45	WHEREAS, deaths in Tennessee from suspected abuse or neglect rose nearly thirty
46	46	percent over the previous year; now, therefore,
47	47	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
48	48	SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Savannah Grace Copeland
49	49	Act."
50	50	SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 9-4-213, is amended by adding the
51	51	following new subsections:
52	52	(e) In the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and in subsequent fiscal years, any
53	53	increase in funding for positions or office expenses for the department of children's
54	54	services in child protective services must be accompanied by an increase in funding of
55	55	seventy-five percent (75%) of the increase in funding to the contracts of the child
56	56	advocacy center in each judicial district for the purpose of services to child victims in
57	57	each fiscal year.
58	58	(f) Subject to appropriation, the department of children's services shall increase
59	59	each child advocacy center contract as follows:
60	60	(1) A contract labeled as "child advocacy center" must be increased to a
61	61	base of one hundred twenty-seven thousand eight hundred fifty-five dollars and
62	62	ninety-eight cents ($127,855.98); and
63	63	(2) A contract labeled as "forensic child interviewer" must be increased to
64	64	a base of eighty-five thousand dollars ($85,000) per contracted interviewer.
65	65
66	66
67	67	- 3 - 002086
68	68
69	69	(g) In the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and in subsequent fiscal years,
70	70	funds appropriated for child advocacy centers must be allocated in accordance with the
71	71	formula in subsection (e) using the contract's applicable base in subsection (f).
72	72	SECTION 3. This act is not an appropriation of funds, and funds shall not be obligated
73	73	or expended pursuant to this act unless the funds are specifically appropriated by the general
74	74	appropriations act.
75	75	SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
76	76	applies to contracts entered into, renewed, or amended on or after such date.