Public Funds and Financing - As enacted, enacts the "Savannah Grace Copeland Act." - Amends TCA Title 9; Title 12; Title 37; Title 39 and Title 49. HB0641 has been assigned Public Chapter Number 495 by the Secretary of S, the official text

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                        ~tate of \lrennessee

                          PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 495

                                                 HOUSE BILL NO. 641

By Representatives Carringer, Todd, Barrett, Doggett, Brock Martin, Powers, McCalmon,
Gant, White, Grills, Darby, Atchley, Hurt, Kumar, Keisling, Russell, Haston, Mitchell,
Renea Jones, Behn, Hemmer, Freeman, Clemmons, Love, Faison, Eldridge, Farmer,
Burkhart, Hale, Miller, Gillespie, Dixie, Baum, Johnson, Shaw, Rudd, Moody, Davis, Hill,
Stevens, Powell, Boyd, Moon, Stinnett, Hawk, Capley, Tim Hicks, Brooks, Lamberth,
Justin Jones, Hardaway, Sherrell, Bulso, Littleton, Bricken, Terry, Camper, Butler, Reedy,
Salinas, Wright

                                       Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 450

By Senators Massey, Crowe, Walley, Seal, Yarbro, Rose, Harshbarger, Hatcher, Reeves,
White, Campbell, Roberts, Haile, Jackson, Stevens, Pody, Mr. Speaker McNally,
Southerland, Yager, Bailey, Oliver, Briggs, Lamar, Akbari

          AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9; Title 12; Title 37; Title 39 and
Title 49, relative to funding of child advocacy centers.

          WHEREAS, child advocacy centers have played a vital role for the last thirty years in the
State of Tennessee to meet the needs of at-risk, neglected, and abused children; and

          WHEREAS, Tennessee was the first state in the nation to require a child advocacy
center in each judicial district setting the standard for the care of abused children; and

          WHEREAS, Tennessee has a long history of leading the nation in the fight against child
abuse and neglect; and

          WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 9-4-213, which was originally enacted
by Chapter 988 of the Public Acts of 1998 during the 100th General Assembly, clearly outlines
the requirements of a child advocacy center in order to meet funding requirements; and

          WHEREAS, we, the members of the General Assembly, find that funding for all child
advocacy centers' contracts has remained stagnant since 1999, resulting in increased pressure
on these centers; and

           WHEREAS, collectively, the child advocacy centers served over 32,000 children in 2024
with forensic interviews, victim advocacy, medical exams, and mental health clinical services;
 and

           WHEREAS, the critical role of child advocacy centers and their staff play an integral role
 of bringing help, healing, and hope to thousands of child victims each year; and

           WHEREAS, child advocacy centers support the work of the Department of Children's
 Services, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and provide crucial support to the
 district attorneys general in each judicial district to aid in the prosecution of crimes against
 children; and

           WHEREAS, both the 112th and 113th General Assemblies appropriated one-time funds
 expecting the Department of Children's Services to increase funding to all child advocacy
 centers; and

           WHEREAS, deaths in Tennessee from suspected abuse or neglect rose nearly thirty
 percent over the previous year; now, therefore,

 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

           SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Savannah Grace Copeland
 Act."
HB641
          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 9-4-213, is amended by adding the

following new subsections:
                    (e)
                              (1) Each December, when the state funding board presents its state
                    revenue estimates in accordance with § 9-4-5202(e)(3), the board shall also
                    certify the growth rate of the state general fund revenue based on actual revenue
                    collections from the prior fiscal year.
                              (2) If the growth rate that is certified for the prior fiscal year under
                    subdivision (e)(1) equals or exceeds one percent (1%), then the base amount of
                    the contracts of the child advocacy center in each judicial district must be
                    increased on the subsequent July 1 by three percent (3%) for the purpose of
                    providing services to child victims.
                    (f) Subject to appropriation, the department of children's services shall increase

          the base amount for each child advocacy center contract as follows:
                              (1) A contract labeled as "child advocacy center" must be increased to a

                    base of one hundred twenty-seven thousand eight hundred fifty-five dollars and
                    ninety-eight cents ($127,855.98); and

                              (2) A contract labeled as "forensic child interviewer" must be increased to
                    a base of eighty-five thousand dollars ($85,000) per contracted interviewer.
          SECTION 3. This act is not an appropriation of funds, and funds shall not be obligated or
expended pursuant to this act unless the funds are specifically appropriated by the general
appropriations act.
          SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to contracts entered into, renewed, or amended on or after such date.

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                      HOUSE BILL NO. 641

PASSED:  April 22, 2025

                                  CZ ..~

                                  CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                                  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                         Q.

                                                   RANDY MCNALL
                                          EAKER OF THE SENAT

0/\a 1 APPROVED this a. { 1jl- day of&    2025

BILL LE  ----            ~'/ -«-
         E, GOVERNOR