[For postponed repeal effective 1/1/2025, see T.C.A. 37-1-910]

(a)

criminal case

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 37-1-903

  • Commissioner: means commissioner of children's services. See Tennessee Code 37-1-102
  • Department: means the department of children's services. See Tennessee Code 37-1-102
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Juvenile court: means the general sessions court in all counties of this state, except in those counties and municipalities in which special juvenile courts are provided by law, and "judge" means judge of the juvenile court. See Tennessee Code 37-1-102
  • safe baby court: means any court program created within this state that seeks to accomplish the goals stated in subsection (b) and that is established by a judge with jurisdiction over juvenile court matters. See Tennessee Code 37-1-902
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) On January 1, 2018, there are established five (5) zero to three court programs throughout this state. These courts shall be in addition to any zero to three court programs already established in the state.
(2) On January 1, 2020, there are established five (5) safe baby courts throughout this state. These courts are in addition to other zero to three court programs and safe baby courts established in this state prior to May 10, 2019. The establishment of additional safe baby courts is authorized as funding permits.
(b)

(1) The administrative office of the courts, in consultation with the department of children’s services, the department of mental health and substance abuse services, and the council of juvenile and family court judges, shall determine the location of each program.
(2) The department of children’s services, in consultation with the administrative office of the courts, the department of mental health and substance abuse services, and the council of juvenile and family court judges shall establish at least one (1) program within each of the three (3) grand divisions and shall seek to serve both rural and urban populations.
(3) The administrative office of the courts, the council of juvenile and family court judges, the department of children’s services, and the department of mental health and substance abuse services are authorized to collaborate for the purpose of developing a strategy for safe baby court programs to expand services into adjacent counties where the judges of the juvenile courts of each county agree to share resources and the department of children’s services has the staffing and resource capacity to provide coverage of safe baby courts in the adjacent counties.
(c) The department of children’s services, in consultation with the administrative office of the courts, council of juvenile and family court judges, and the department of mental health and substance abuse services, shall administer the zero to three court programs by:

(1) Defining, developing, and gathering outcome measures for zero to three court programs relating to the goals stated in § 37-1-902;
(2) Collecting and compiling safe baby court program data, including annual reports from each zero to three court program and safe baby court. The department of children’s services shall create and disseminate an annual report to the director of the administrative office of the courts, the commissioner of the department of mental health and substance abuse services, the council of juvenile and family court judges, and the chairs of the civil justice committee of the house of representatives and the judiciary committee of the senate. The annual report must summarize the results of the programs’ operations during the previous calendar year, including data on outcomes achieved in safe baby courts compared to the outcomes achieved by other courts exercising similar jurisdiction, any cost savings associated with the achievement of the goals stated in § 37-1-902, and program feedback from safe baby court judges. Each zero to three court program and safe baby court established on or before January 1, 2018, shall submit program data and an annual report as described in this subdivision (c)(2) to the department of children’s services, the department of mental health and substance abuse services, the administrative office of the courts, and the council of juvenile and family court judges by February 1 of each year. Each safe baby court established on January 1, 2020, shall submit program data and an annual report as described in this subdivision (c)(2) to the department of children’s services, the department of mental health and substance abuse services, the administrative office of the courts, and the council of juvenile and family court judges by February 1, 2021, and each following February 1;
(3) Sponsoring and coordinating state zero to three court training for the juvenile court judges and staff who will administer the programs; and
(4) Developing standards of operation, including procedures and protocols, for zero to three court programs prior to the creation, establishment, and commencement of the programs on January 1, 2018.
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