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SB 804

Treasurer, State - As introduced, creates within the state treasury a fund known as the crime stoppers trust fund to be used for the purpose of grant administration to fund crime stoppers programs within the state; requires an additional fine of $10 to be imposed on offenders convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense to be deposited in the crime stoppers trust fund. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 67.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Becky Massey

Implements a Crime Stoppers Trust Fund funded by a new $10 court fine, to grant local programs for tips, rewards, and prevention across Tennessee.

Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 804

Summary of SB 804 / HB 1116 (Tennessee, 114th Legislature)

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes the Crime Stoppers Trust Fund (the Fund) within the state treasury.
  • Creates a dedicated mechanism to fund crime stoppers programs across political subdivisions of Tennessee through grant administration.
  • Provides a new, dedicated revenue stream to support crime stoppers activities by diverting a portion of court-imposed fines to the Fund.

Key provisions and changes

New funding mechanism

  • Adds a new additional fine of $10 for any offender convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense.
  • Court clerks must collect the $10 fine and forward, monthly, the amount collected:
    • $7.00 per assessment goes to the Crime Stoppers Trust Fund (deposited in a separate account designated by judicial district).
    • $3.00 per assessment retained by the clerk as a service charge.
  • Funds deposited into the Fund are not allowed to revert to the General Fund and are restricted for grant administration and related purposes.
  • The distribution of funds must be based on the amount collected within each county, particularly in judicial districts spanning multiple counties.

Fund structure and administration

  • Creates the Crime Stoppers Trust Fund in the state treasury.
  • The Fund will receive:
    • State-appropriated moneys
    • Fines collected under the new Section 40-35-1 (the $10 fines)
    • Interest and income from investments, which must be carried forward each year
  • The Fund must be administered with separate accounting for principal and income.
  • Investment of Fund assets is governed by existing state investment authority (Tenn. Code Ann. § 9-4-603).
  • The State Treasurer is the disbursing authority for fund grants to crime stoppers organizations, via applications submitted to the Department of Safety (DOS).

Grant eligibility and use of funds

  • A “crime stoppers organization” is defined as a 501(c)(3) with a governing board and an executive director/coordinator, that funds rewards for tips and forwards information to law enforcement.
  • Grants may be used for:
    • Purchasing and distributing promotional items to increase public awareness
    • Paying rewards for tips that result in:
    • Arrests, recovery of stolen property, narcotics, a homicide victim’s body, a human trafficking victim or missing person connected to crime, or an illegal firearm on a K-12 campus
    • Prevention of a terrorist act
    • Solving/closing a homicide or violent felony with no viable leads for one year or longer
    • Administrative or operating expenses, with a cap: no more than 25% of grant funds may be used for administrative/operating expenses
  • Grants are awarded by the State Treasurer to crime stoppers organizations that apply to the DOS for funding assistance. The DOS must provide the Treasurer with a schedule of authorized organizations and keep it updated.

Reporting and oversight

  • Each funded crime stoppers organization must annually report, by February 1, starting in 2027, on the use of grant funds to the Chief Clerks of the Senate and House, the Legislative Librarian, and the Office of Legislative Budget Analysis.
  • The Fund will be examined and audited by the Comptroller of the Treasury.

Administration and rules

  • The Treasury may promulgate rules on:
    • Fund investment
    • Administration, processing, and payment of funds to local governments
    • Criteria for organizations to apply for funding
    • Pro rata and equitable distribution criteria across counties/districts
    • Coordination with agencies to support crime prevention training and public safety education

Effective date

  • Takes effect January 1, 2026.

Who or what is affected

  • Courts and court clerks: new $10 fine collection, distribution to the Fund, and associated service charge.
  • State Treasury: administration of the Crime Stoppers Trust Fund, investment, and disbursement of grants.
  • Department of Safety: assists in identifying eligible crime stoppers organizations and manages grant applications from local programs.
  • Local crime stoppers organizations: potential sources of grant funding for promotional activities, rewards, and operating expenses (subject to 25% cap and eligibility).
  • Local governments and counties: potential grant recipients based on fund availability and per-county allocation rules.
  • Taxpayer/fining public: new revenue stream dedicated to crime prevention efforts.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Revenue impact begins with the new $10 fine starting from the effective date.
  • First annual reporting by grant recipients due February 1, 2027; subsequent annual reports due each February 1.
  • Fiscal notes indicate initial one-time grant implementation costs and a recurring personnel addition in the Treasury (1 Manager IV position) starting FY25-26, alongside ongoing Fund operations.
  • The bill includes an audit provision and potential rulemaking to govern investment and distribution, plus coordination with DOS for grant eligibility.

Fiscal impact (highlights)

  • State government:
    • Estimated new Fund revenue: >$302,100 in FY25-26; >$604,200 in FY26-27 and later
    • Estimated Fund expenditures: ~$356,200 in FY25-26; >$302,100 in FY26-27 and later
    • Net: indicates a recurring revenue-expenditure gap that is funded by the Fund itself; initial one-time grant implementation cost of $300,000
    • Additional Treasury staff: 1 Manager 4 (starting in FY25-26)
  • Local government:
    • Estimated new revenue: >$129,500 in FY25-26; >$259,000 in FY26-27 and later
  • Overall: The proposal envisions a self-funding mechanism for crime stoppers grants through court fines, with state and local distribution guided by judicial districts and observed collections.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current law, or a one-page condensed briefing for policymakers.

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

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