Bill > SB2099

This bill establishes the "Tennessee Court Appearance Reminder Program Act," which mandates the creation of a statewide system to remind defendants of their upcoming court dates for criminal and traffic offenses when they are not in custody. This program, to be managed by the administrative office of the courts, aims to reduce missed appearances, decrease the issuance of warrants for failure to appear, and improve court efficiency by sending reminders via text message, email, or mail at no cost to the defendant. The system will automatically enroll defendants who provide contact information, sending at least three reminders before each appearance, including one the day before, and will also provide information on the consequences of not showing up and how to resolve any missed appearances. The bill also includes provisions for data collection to evaluate the program's effectiveness and strict limitations on how defendants' contact information can be used, ensuring it is solely for court notifications and not for investigations or other purposes.

Justice

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB2099&ga=114