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SB 1755

Courts, Juvenile - As introduced, requires the department of children's services, and others, to provide certain information to court-appointed special advocates in order to provide judicial officers with the most comprehensive information to be used in the consideration of the placement and custody of a child. - Amends TCA Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 1.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Ferrell Haile

Requires child services and other agencies to share comprehensive case information with court-appointed child advocates to improve judicial custody and placement decisions.

Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
#courts #juvenile
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Bill Summary · SB 1755

Legislative bill overview

SB 1755 mandates that the Department of Children's Services and other entities share comprehensive information with court-appointed special advocates (CASAs) to enhance judicial decision-making in child placement and custody cases. The bill amends Tennessee's juvenile court statutes to formalize information-sharing requirements for these volunteer advocates who represent children's best interests in court.

Why is this important

CASAs play a critical role in child welfare proceedings by providing independent, child-focused recommendations to judges. Better access to case information allows advocates to present more complete pictures of a child's situation, potentially improving custody and placement outcomes. However, this increased information access raises questions about data security, confidentiality protections, and resource demands on already-stretched child services agencies.

Potential points of contention

  • Confidentiality and privacy concerns: Expanding access to sensitive case files and family information to volunteers requires robust safeguards; breach or misuse of such data could harm vulnerable children and families
  • Implementation burden: Child services departments may face significant costs and administrative complexity in compiling and sharing comprehensive information for each case involving a CASA
  • Scope ambiguity: The bill's reference to "others" and "certain information" lacks specificity about which agencies must participate and what data must be disclosed, creating potential compliance confusion

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

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