Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 10, Chapter 7, Part 5; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41.

This bill establishes the Tennessee witness protection and relocation grant pilot program, which will be administered by the department of finance and administration's office of criminal justice programs. This bill states that the purpose of the pilot program is to invest in local agencies and community programs that provide witness protection, relocation, and assistance services. The office will award grants from the pilot program on a competitive basis to municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and nonprofit organizations that provide witness protection, relocation, and assistance services. Grant recipients may use funds to provide witnesses with any of the following: (1) Armed protection or escort by law enforcement officials or security personnel before, during, or subsequent to legal proceedings; (2) Physical relocation to an alternate residence; (3) Housing expenses; (4) Appropriate documents to establish a new identity, including documentation created in coordination with federal authorities; (5) Transportation or storage of personal possessions; (6) Basic living expenses, including food, transportation, utility costs, and health care; (7) Support, advocacy, and other services to provide for the safe transition of witnesses into a new environment; or (8) Other services as needed and approved by the office. This bill requires the office to issue appropriate guidelines and may promulgate rules to implement this bill. The guidelines must include a process by which municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and nonprofit organizations may apply for grants. Information relating to a witness participating in a program receiving funds from the pilot program will be confidential and not subject to disclosure under the open records law. This bill authorizes the office to solicit and receive grants, donations, and private funding to assist in the implementation of this bill. For administrative and budgetary purposes, this bill will take effect July 1, 2022. For all other purposes, this bill will take effect January 1, 2023.