| 1 | 1 | | |
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| 2 | 2 | | HOUSE BILL 696 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By Gillespie |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | SENATE BILL 1123 |
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| 6 | 6 | | By Harshbarger |
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| 7 | 7 | | |
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| 8 | 8 | | |
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| 9 | 9 | | SB1123 |
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| 10 | 10 | | 002824 |
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| 11 | 11 | | - 1 - |
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| 12 | 12 | | |
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| 13 | 13 | | AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; |
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| 14 | 14 | | Title 8 and Title 38, relative to sexual assault |
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| 15 | 15 | | response teams. |
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| 16 | 16 | | |
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| 17 | 17 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: |
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| 18 | 18 | | SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Statewide Sexual Assault |
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| 19 | 19 | | Response Team (SART) Coordinator Act." |
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| 20 | 20 | | SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38, Chapter 1, Part 9, is amended by |
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| 21 | 21 | | adding the following as a new section: |
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| 22 | 22 | | 38-1-904. Statewide SART coordinator. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (a) There is created a statewide sexual assault response team (SART) |
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| 24 | 24 | | coordinator. |
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| 25 | 25 | | (b) The statewide SART coordinator is responsible for ensuring the proper |
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| 26 | 26 | | training, compliance, and effective functioning of local SARTs in accordance with this |
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| 27 | 27 | | part. The statewide SART coordinator shall provide statewide leadership, coordination, |
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| 28 | 28 | | technical assistance, and oversight to ensure the proper functioning of sexual assault |
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| 29 | 29 | | response teams, including training, compliance with applicable laws, and access to |
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| 30 | 30 | | necessary resources. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (c) The statewide SART coordinator is an employee of the Tennessee Coalition |
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| 32 | 32 | | to End Domestic and Sexual Violence and shall report directly to the executive director |
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| 33 | 33 | | of the organization. |
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| 34 | 34 | | (d) Subject to appropriations, the statewide SART coordinator position is funded |
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| 35 | 35 | | by grants from the department of finance and administration, office of criminal justice |
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| 36 | 36 | | |
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| 37 | 37 | | |
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| 38 | 38 | | - 2 - 002824 |
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| 39 | 39 | | |
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| 40 | 40 | | programs, to the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence for such |
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| 41 | 41 | | purpose. |
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| 42 | 42 | | (e) Not later than February 1 annually, the statewide SART coordinator shall |
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| 43 | 43 | | submit a report to the chief clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and the |
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| 44 | 44 | | legislative librarian on the status of the SART program throughout the state, including |
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| 45 | 45 | | training efforts, compliance levels, and recommendations for improvement. The |
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| 46 | 46 | | coordinator shall also report on the effectiveness of SARTs in responding to sexual |
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| 47 | 47 | | assault cases, identifying gaps in service, and addressing systemic challenges. |
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| 48 | 48 | | SECTION 3. The heading in this act is for reference purposes only and does not |
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| 49 | 49 | | constitute a part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is |
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| 50 | 50 | | requested to include the heading in any compilation or publication containing this act. |
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| 51 | 51 | | SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it. |
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| 52 | 52 | | |
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