Senate Bill 1513 aims to amend the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning the Department of Children's Services. Specifically, it removes subdivision (18) from Section 4-29-247(a) and adds a new subdivision to Section 4-29-250(a) that formally recognizes the Department of Children's Services, as established by Sections 4-3-101 and 37-5-101.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Children's Services report to the education, health, and general welfare joint evaluation committee by December 31, 2026. This report will provide updates on the department's progress in addressing the findings and observations from the performance audit report issued by the division of state audit in December 2025. The act will take effect upon becoming law, emphasizing the importance of public welfare.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 4-29-247(a), 4-29-247, 4-29-250(a), 4-29-250