Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB1966: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 5, relative to the department of children's services.
Status: Chaptered, May 27, 2026
Fiscal Summary STATE GOVERNMENTEXPENDITURESGeneral FundFY26-27>$7,374,100FY27-28 & Subsequent Years>$7,216,900Total Positions Required: > 119 FEDERAL GOVERNMENTEXPENDITURES FY26-27>$6,343,900FY27-28 & Subsequent Years>$4,280,600 OTHER FISCAL IMPACT Due to the unknown makeup and duties of each County Assurance Committee, State Quality Assurance Committee, and the Office of Quality Assurance, the total increase in state and mandatory local expenditures associated with these entities cannot be reasonably estimated, but are assumed to be significant. Article II, Section 24 of the Tennessee Constitution provides that: no law of general application shall impose increased expenditure requirements on cities or counties unless the General Assembly shall provide that the state share in the cost. Bill Summary This bill requires the commissioner of children's services ("commissioner") to develop a statewide, county-level quality assurance program ("program") and implement it no later than July 1, 2027. The purpose of the program is to ensure quality control through monitoring, evaluation, and feedback on the performance of the best practices in the service delivery system, and utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data in outcomes-based approaches at the county level. DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM When developing the program, this bill requires the commissioner to do all of the following: Ensure that county quality assurance systems in each county in this state, which must include a designated quality assurance coordinator and a county quality assurance committee, are incorporated into the program. Ensure that an office of quality assurance within the state department is incorporated into the program. Ensure that a state quality assurance committee is incorporated into the program. Prioritize long-term trends,
What the bill says
From the amended text:
House Judiciary 1 Amendment No. 1 to HB1966 Farmer Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 1622* House Bill No. 1966 by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 5, Part 1, is amended by adding the following as a new section: (a) The commissioner of children's services shall develop a statewide quality assurance program. The purpose of the quality assurance program is to ensure quality control through monitoring, evaluation, and feedback on the performance of the best practices in the service delivery system and utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data in outcomes-based approaches at the regional level. (b) The statewide quality assurance program shall include, at a and (2) Quality assurance systems in each region, including regional quality assurance coordinators. (c) The statewide quality assurance program shall: (1) Provide a permanent structure for independent, objective evaluation of the quality of services and outcomes for children and families served by the department; (2) Review programs for consistency with applicable federal, state, and departmental policy; (3) Review outcomes experienced by children and families, particularly the outcome areas of safety, permanency, and child well-being; HA0760 (4) Provide information on system and outcome areas needing improvement and identifying barriers to system delivery; and (5) Engage existing regional or county level …