| 4 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 4 | | HOUSE BILL 696 |
|---|
| 6 | 5 | | By Gillespie |
|---|
| 7 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 8 | 7 | | |
|---|
| 9 | 8 | | HB0696 |
|---|
| 10 | 9 | | 002824 |
|---|
| 11 | 10 | | - 1 - |
|---|
| 12 | 11 | | |
|---|
| 13 | 12 | | AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; |
|---|
| 14 | 13 | | Title 8 and Title 38, relative to sexual assault |
|---|
| 15 | 14 | | response teams. |
|---|
| 16 | 15 | | |
|---|
| 17 | 16 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: |
|---|
| 18 | 17 | | SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Statewide Sexual Assault |
|---|
| 19 | 18 | | Response Team (SART) Coordinator Act." |
|---|
| 20 | 19 | | SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38, Chapter 1, Part 9, is amended by |
|---|
| 21 | 20 | | adding the following as a new section: |
|---|
| 22 | 21 | | 38-1-904. Statewide SART coordinator. |
|---|
| 23 | 22 | | (a) There is created a statewide sexual assault response team (SART) |
|---|
| 24 | 23 | | coordinator. |
|---|
| 25 | 24 | | (b) The statewide SART coordinator is responsible for ensuring the proper |
|---|
| 26 | 25 | | training, compliance, and effective functioning of local SARTs in accordance with this |
|---|
| 27 | 26 | | part. The statewide SART coordinator shall provide statewide leadership, coordination, |
|---|
| 28 | 27 | | technical assistance, and oversight to ensure the proper functioning of sexual assault |
|---|
| 29 | 28 | | response teams, including training, compliance with applicable laws, and access to |
|---|
| 30 | 29 | | necessary resources. |
|---|
| 31 | 30 | | (c) The statewide SART coordinator is an employee of the Tennessee Coalition |
|---|
| 32 | 31 | | to End Domestic and Sexual Violence and shall report directly to the executive director |
|---|
| 33 | 32 | | of the organization. |
|---|
| 34 | 33 | | (d) Subject to appropriations, the statewide SART coordinator position is funded |
|---|
| 35 | 34 | | by grants from the department of finance and administration, office of criminal justice |
|---|
| 36 | 35 | | |
|---|
| 37 | 36 | | |
|---|
| 38 | 37 | | - 2 - 002824 |
|---|
| 39 | 38 | | |
|---|
| 40 | 39 | | programs, to the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence for such |
|---|
| 41 | 40 | | purpose. |
|---|
| 42 | 41 | | (e) Not later than February 1 annually, the statewide SART coordinator shall |
|---|
| 43 | 42 | | submit a report to the chief clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and the |
|---|
| 44 | 43 | | legislative librarian on the status of the SART program throughout the state, including |
|---|
| 45 | 44 | | training efforts, compliance levels, and recommendations for improvement. The |
|---|
| 46 | 45 | | coordinator shall also report on the effectiveness of SARTs in responding to sexual |
|---|
| 47 | 46 | | assault cases, identifying gaps in service, and addressing systemic challenges. |
|---|
| 48 | 47 | | SECTION 3. The heading in this act is for reference purposes only and does not |
|---|
| 49 | 48 | | constitute a part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is |
|---|
| 50 | 49 | | requested to include the heading in any compilation or publication containing this act. |
|---|
| 51 | 50 | | SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it. |
|---|
| 52 | 51 | | |
|---|