Lewis County Herald - Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898

Enhancing support for foster youth Public Chapter 785 — The state will reimburse eligible relatives of foster youth to support the cost of raising the child. It also expands eligibility to ages 18-21 for foster youth transitioning from state custody to adulthood to access services. The bill goes in to effect Jan. 1, 2023

Noah’s Law Public Chapter 767 – Expedites the Amber Alert process for children in danger was approved by the General Assembly this year. It expands the criteria for issuing an amber alert by allowing a custodial parent under certain circumstances to seek an emergency court order declaring the child to be in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, and orders the noncustodial parent to return the child to the custodial parent immediately. “Noah’s Law” is in response to a 2021 incident in which then 3-year-old Noah Clare was abducted by his non-custodial father and taken from Tennessee to California. It took the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) 11 days to issue an Amber Alert once the child was reported missing because the case did not meet certain criteria. Clare was found safe on the 11th day of the search. Effective 4/06/22

Increasing safeguards for residential child care agencies Public Chapter 906 – As a result of the Joint Study Commission on Refugee Resettlement Issues, this law puts into place additional safeguards of reporting requirements for residential child care agencies (RCCAs). Under the new law, RCCAs would be required to disclose all contracts in agreement with third parties to provide care, housing and placement for children in Tennessee in order to receive a new license or license renewal. Additionally, it requires the Department of Children’s Services to revoke the license of a facility that provides residential child care if more than two employees or three percent of employees have been charged with criminal offenses related to their job responsibilities and the children for which the agency cares. It also requires an annual report showing the reasons for transfers of children. Lastly, the law requires the child care facility to report the names of children who have escaped or disappeared from the RCCA. Effective July 1, 2022.

As always, I am truly humbled and honored to be your voice on Capitol Hill. If there is ever any issue I can assist with, please reach out to my office by calling 615-741-2190 or emailing me at [email protected]