Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SB0450 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2		-	HOUSE BILL 641
3		-	By Carringer
	2	+	<BillNo> <Sponsor>
4	3
5	4		SENATE BILL 450
6	5		By Massey
7	6
8	7
9	8		SB0450
10	9		002086
11	10		- 1 -
12	11
13	12		AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9;
14	13		Title 12; Title 37; Title 39 and Title 49, relative to
15	14		funding of child advocacy centers.
16	15
17	16		WHEREAS, child advocacy centers have played a vital role for the last thirty years in the
18	17		State of Tennessee to meet the needs of at-risk, neglected, and abused children; and
19	18		WHEREAS, Tennessee was the first state in the nation to require a child advocacy
20	19		center in each judicial district setting the standard for the care of abused children; and
21	20		WHEREAS, Tennessee has a long history of leading the nation in the fight against child
22	21		abuse and neglect; and
23	22		WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 9-4-213, which was originally enacted
24	23		by Chapter 988 of the Public Acts of 1988 during the 100th General Assembly, clearly outlines
25	24		the requirements of a child advocacy center in order to meet funding requirements; and
26	25		WHEREAS, we, the members of the General Assembly, find that funding for all child
27	26		advocacy centers' contracts has remained stagnant since 1999, resulting in increased pressure
28	27		on these centers; and
29	28		WHEREAS, collectively, the child advocacy centers served over 32,000 children in 2024
30	29		with forensic interviews, victim advocacy, medical exams, and mental health clinical services;
31	30		and
32	31		WHEREAS, the critical role of child advocacy centers and their staff play an integral role
33	32		of bringing help, healing, and hope to thousands of child victims each year; and
34	33		WHEREAS, child advocacy centers support the work of the Department of Children's
35	34		Services, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and provide crucial support to the
36	35
37	36
38	37		- 2 - 002086
39	38
40	39		district attorneys general in each judicial district to aid in the prosecution of crimes against
41	40		children; and
42	41		WHEREAS, both the 112th and 113th General Assemblies appropriated one-time funds
43	42		expecting the Department of Children's Services to increase funding to all child advocacy
44	43		centers; and
45	44		WHEREAS, deaths in Tennessee from suspected abuse or neglect rose nearly thirty
46	45		percent over the previous year; now, therefore,
47	46		BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
48	47		SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Savannah Grace Copeland
49	48		Act."
50	49		SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 9-4-213, is amended by adding the
51	50		following new subsections:
52	51		(e) In the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and in subsequent fiscal years, any
53	52		increase in funding for positions or office expenses for the department of children's
54	53		services in child protective services must be accompanied by an increase in funding of
55	54		seventy-five percent (75%) of the increase in funding to the contracts of the child
56	55		advocacy center in each judicial district for the purpose of services to child victims in
57	56		each fiscal year.
58	57		(f) Subject to appropriation, the department of children's services shall increase
59	58		each child advocacy center contract as follows:
60	59		(1) A contract labeled as "child advocacy center" must be increased to a
61	60		base of one hundred twenty-seven thousand eight hundred fifty-five dollars and
62	61		ninety-eight cents ($127,855.98); and
63	62		(2) A contract labeled as "forensic child interviewer" must be increased to
64	63		a base of eighty-five thousand dollars ($85,000) per contracted interviewer.
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66	65
67	66		- 3 - 002086
68	67
69	68		(g) In the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and in subsequent fiscal years,
70	69		funds appropriated for child advocacy centers must be allocated in accordance with the
71	70		formula in subsection (e) using the contract's applicable base in subsection (f).
72	71		SECTION 3. This act is not an appropriation of funds, and funds shall not be obligated
73	72		or expended pursuant to this act unless the funds are specifically appropriated by the general
74	73		appropriations act.
75	74		SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
76	75		applies to contracts entered into, renewed, or amended on or after such date.