House Bill 1939 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-5-132, to establish new staffing and caseload management requirements for the Department of Children's Services. The bill mandates that each region must have sufficient case managers to ensure that no case manager has more than twelve active cases involving up to twelve families for initial assessments, or more than twenty children in ongoing service cases. Additionally, the department is required to resolve each active case within twelve months; if not resolved, the case must be presented to juvenile court for a status review hearing, where the court will provide specific instructions for timely resolution.

The bill replaces the existing language in Section 37-5-132 with these new provisions, emphasizing the importance of manageable caseloads and timely case resolution to enhance the effectiveness of child welfare services. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring that the necessary changes are implemented to improve the handling of child welfare cases in Tennessee.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 37-5-132