Bill > HB0696

This bill establishes a statewide Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) coordinator position to improve sexual assault response efforts across Tennessee. The coordinator, who will be an employee of the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, will be responsible for providing leadership, training, technical assistance, and oversight to local Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs). The position will be funded through grants from the department of finance and administration's office of criminal justice programs. The coordinator will have key responsibilities including ensuring proper training and compliance of local SARTs, and will be required to submit an annual report by February 1st to legislative leadership detailing the status of SART programs statewide, including training efforts, compliance levels, and recommendations for improvement. The report must also address the effectiveness of SARTs in responding to sexual assault cases, identifying service gaps, and addressing systemic challenges. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and is officially named the "Statewide Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Coordinator Act."

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0696&ga=114