WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 2220

Children's Services, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the department to complete any investigation of a child care agency involving allegations of child abuse or child sexual abuse within 45 days of commencing the investigation, except for good cause shown; states that the requirement does not apply to an investigation into allegations that an operator or employee of a child care agency committed child abuse or child sexual abuse. - Amends TCA Title 37 and Title 71.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Adam Lowe

Requires Tennessee child care abuse investigations to complete within 45 days, excluding investigations of individual operators/employees, creating deadline accountability with potential exemptions.

Companion House Bill substituted
#children'sservices #dept.of
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 2220

Legislative bill overview

SB 2220 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to complete investigations into allegations of child abuse or sexual abuse at child care agencies within 45 days, with limited exceptions for good cause. Notably, the 45-day requirement does not apply to investigations of whether operators or employees themselves committed the abuse—only to investigations of the agency's overall practices or environment.

Why is this important

Child abuse investigations directly affect child safety and the operations of child care facilities. Establishing timelines can increase accountability and provide families with faster answers, but the carve-out for operator/employee investigations creates a potential loophole where the most serious allegations might face no statutory deadline, potentially delaying accountability for individual perpetrators.

Potential points of contention

  • The loophole exemption: Excluding investigations of operator/employee abuse from the 45-day deadline may allow slower investigations of individual abusers, contradicting the bill's apparent intent to expedite accountability
  • Feasibility concerns: A 45-day requirement may be unrealistic for complex investigations requiring multiple interviews, medical evaluations, and corroboration, potentially pressuring investigators to rush or close cases prematurely
  • "Good cause" vagueness: The bill allows exceptions "for good cause shown" without defining what qualifies, potentially creating inconsistent enforcement across regions

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

Sign in to ask a question.