Sexual Offenses

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8 and Title 38, relative to sexual assault response teams.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Gillespie, Harshbarger
Last action: 2026-04-08
Official status: Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify the exact amount of annual funding, leaving this detail uncertain.

Statewide Sexual Assault Response Team Coordinator Act

This bill establishes a statewide coordinator position to oversee and support local sexual assault response teams in Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

Creates a statewide SART coordinator responsible for ensuring proper training, compliance, and effective functioning of local SARTs.
Requires the coordinator to report annually on the status and effectiveness of SART programs throughout the state.
Funds the position through grants from the Department of Finance and Administration's Office of Criminal Justice Programs.

Who It Names or Affects

Local sexual assault response teams in Tennessee
The Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, which employs the coordinator

Terms To Know

SART Coordinator: A person responsible for overseeing and supporting local sexual assault response teams.
Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence: An organization that employs the statewide SART coordinator and receives funding for this position.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact amount of annual funding.
It is unclear what specific actions local SART teams must take based on reports from the coordinator.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HA0277

Amendment 1-0 to HB0696

Plain English: The amendment creates a statewide sexual assault response team coordinator position within the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence to support local SARTs and ensure compliance with state laws.

Establishes a new position of statewide SART coordinator responsible for supporting local teams, ensuring compliance with state laws, and promoting best practices.
Requires the coordinator to submit an annual report on the status and effectiveness of SART programs in Tennessee.
Specifies that funding for the coordinator's position comes from grants awarded by the Office of Criminal Justice Programs.

The exact details of how administrative costs will be managed are not fully explained in the amendment text.

Bill History

2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to Final Calendar No. 2
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to 3/18/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/11/2026
2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2025
2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025
2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/15/2025
2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/2/2025
2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/02/2025
2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/31/2025
2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/26/2025
2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/19/2025
2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/19/2025
2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/12/2025
2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee
2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/26/2025
2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill enacts
the "Statewide Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Coordinator Act
,
"
which creates a
statewide sexual assault response team (SART) coordinator
who is
responsible for ensuring the proper training, compliance, and effective functi
oning of local SARTs in accordance with
state law
. The statewide SART coordinator
must
provide statewide leadership, coordination, technical assistance, and oversight to ensure the proper functioning of sexual assault response teams, including training, c
ompliance with applicable laws, and access to necessary resources.

This bill provides that t
he statewide SART coordinator is an employee of the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence and
must
report directly to the executive director of
the organization.

Subject to appropriations, the statewide SART coordinator position is funded by grants from the department of finance and administration, office of criminal justice programs, to the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
for such purpose.

Not later than February 1 annually,
this bill requires
the statewide SART coordinator
to
submit a report to the chief clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and the legislative librarian on the status of the SART program
throughout the state, including training efforts, compliance levels, and recommendations for improvement. The coordinator
must
also report on the effectiveness of SARTs in responding to sexual assault cases, identifying gaps in service, and addressing sy
stemic challenges.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SENATE BILL 1123
By Harshbarger

HOUSE BILL 696
By Gillespie

HB0696
002824
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 8 and Title 38, relative to sexual assault
response teams.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Statewide Sexual Assault
Response Team (SART) Coordinator Act."
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38, Chapter 1, Part 9, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
38-1-904. Statewide SART coordinator.
(a) There is created a statewide sexual assault response team (SART)
coordinator.
(b) The statewide SART coordinator is responsible for ensuring the proper
training, compliance, and effective functioning of local SARTs in accordance with this
part. The statewide SART coordinator shall provide statewide leadership, coordination,
technical assistance, and oversight to ensure the proper functioning of sexual assault
response teams, including training, compliance with applicable laws, and access to
necessary resources.
(c) The statewide SART coordinator is an employee of the Tennessee Coalition
to End Domestic and Sexual Violence and shall report directly to the executive director
of the organization.
(d) Subject to appropriations, the statewide SART coordinator position is funded
by grants from the department of finance and administration, office of criminal justice

- 2 - 002824

programs, to the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence for such
purpose.
(e) Not later than February 1 annually, the statewide SART coordinator shall
submit a report to the chief clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and the
legislative librarian on the status of the SART program throughout the state, including
training efforts, compliance levels, and recommendations for improvement. The
coordinator shall also report on the effectiveness of SARTs in responding to sexual
assault cases, identifying gaps in service, and addressing systemic challenges.
SECTION 3. The heading in this act is for reference purposes only and does not
constitute a part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is
requested to include the heading in any compilation or publication containing this act.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.