House Bill 547, sponsored by Cochran, amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40, by adding a new section that establishes a mandatory charge of $12.50 to be included in every misdemeanor and felony cost bill. This charge is to be remitted to the county government, except in counties that are part of a multiple county judicial district, where it will go to the office of the executive director of the district attorneys general conference. The funds collected are designated for supplemental funding for the district attorney general's office and must be used to support public safety services at the discretion of the district attorney general. Additionally, any unspent funds at the end of the fiscal year will not revert to the state general fund but will be carried forward for their intended purpose.

The bill also stipulates that the costs collected under this section are supplemental to any existing funds received by the district attorney general system and do not apply to nonmoving traffic violations. It clarifies that the cost imposed does not take priority over restitution or privilege tax collections in criminal cases. Furthermore, district attorneys general are required to submit annual reports detailing the amounts charged and collected, along with the purposes for which the funds were used, to the district attorneys general conference, which will then report this information to various legislative committees. The act will take effect upon becoming law, contingent on public welfare considerations.