Senate Bill 1622, also known as House Bill 1966, aims to enhance the quality assurance efforts within Tennessee's Department of Children's Services by establishing a statewide, county-level quality assurance program. The bill mandates the commissioner to develop and implement this program by July 1, 2027, focusing on monitoring, evaluation, and feedback to ensure quality control in service delivery. Key components of the program include the establishment of county quality assurance systems, a designated quality assurance coordinator, and a state quality assurance committee. The program's goals are to provide independent evaluations of service quality, improve departmental capacity, enhance outcomes for children and families, and assess each county's system.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific approaches for achieving these goals, such as reviewing outcomes related to safety, permanency, and child well-being, as well as identifying barriers to effective service delivery. A grading system will be posted on the department's public website to reflect each county's quality assurance performance, updated at least every six months. The commissioner is also required to report on the program's implementation progress quarterly, starting from September 30, 2026, to the legislative bodies. This initiative is designed to create a responsive and effective service delivery system for children and families across Tennessee.