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HB 1966

Children's Services, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the commissioner to develop and implement a statewide, outcomes-based, county-level quality assurance program no later than July 1, 2027; directs the commissioner to send reports to the general assembly detailing the department's progress toward implementing the program at the end of each fiscal year quarter until the program is fully implemented. - Amends TCA Title 37, Chapter 5.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Andrew Farmer

Tennessee requires Department of Children's Services to establish county-level quality assurance program with measurable outcomes by July 2027 and submit quarterly progress reports.

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Bill Summary · HB 1966

Legislative bill overview

HB 1966 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to create and execute a statewide quality assurance program based on measurable outcomes at the county level by July 1, 2027. The department must provide quarterly progress reports to the state legislature until the program is fully operational.

Why this is important

Quality assurance programs in child services directly affect oversight of caseworker performance, child safety outcomes, and service delivery across counties. This bill establishes accountability mechanisms and transparency for a department handling vulnerable populations, while also creating a timeline and reporting structure to track implementation progress.

Potential points of contention

  • Resource requirements: Developing a statewide outcomes-based system requires significant funding, technology infrastructure, and staff training—costs not detailed in the bill summary, potentially burdening county budgets or state resources
  • Outcomes measurement challenges: Defining and consistently measuring "outcomes" across diverse counties with varying populations, resources, and baseline conditions is technically complex and may produce incomparable or contested data
  • Implementation timeline feasibility: The July 1, 2027 deadline (approximately 16 months from introduction) may be unrealistic for a statewide program, potentially leading to delays, incomplete implementation, or rushed deployment of untested systems

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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