Bill > SB2401

This bill requires the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) to increase transparency regarding its contracted providers and the use of short-term placements for children in its custody. By January 1, 2027, DCS must publicly release detailed information about all providers it has contracted with in the past three years to house or supervise children, excluding individual foster parents, including the number of youth served, licensing information, the types of youth served (delinquent, dependent, or unruly), the scope of services, the amount paid from state and federal funds, and any licensing violations, enforcement actions, or abuse investigations. Furthermore, starting January 30, 2027, and monthly thereafter, DCS must publish reports on its website detailing the number of children staying in short-term or interim locations like hotels, offices, or shelters while awaiting permanent placement, along with data on the length of these stays, the types of locations used, and the overtime staff hours spent supervising children in these temporary settings. The department will also be required to consult with the comptroller of the treasury to ensure accurate reporting and will include a yearly summary of this short-term placement data in its annual report, with semi-annual publications of lists of utilized short-term locations and their contractors.

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https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=SB2401&ga=114