House Bill 696, known as the "Statewide Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Coordinator Act," establishes a statewide SART coordinator in Tennessee. This coordinator will be responsible for overseeing the training, compliance, and effective functioning of local sexual assault response teams. The coordinator will provide leadership, technical assistance, and ensure that local teams have access to necessary resources. The position will be funded through grants from the department of finance and administration and will be an employee of the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, reporting directly to its executive director.

Additionally, the statewide SART coordinator is required to submit an annual report by February 1 to the chief clerks of the senate and house of representatives, as well as the legislative librarian. This report will detail the status of the SART program, including training efforts, compliance levels, and recommendations for improvement, while also assessing the effectiveness of SARTs in addressing sexual assault cases and identifying service gaps. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.