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, administered by the attorney general, to invest in local agencies and community programs that provide witness protection, relocation, and assistance services to witnesses in criminal proceedings.<br /> <br /> PILOT PROGRAM<br /> <br /> This bill requires the attorney general to award grants from the pilot program on a competitive basis to local governments that provide witness protection, relocation, and assistance services. The bill prohibits a grant from being in an amount greater than the amount the local government has expended for such services. The bill authorizes the grant recipients to use funds to provide witnesses with the following:<br /> <br /> (1) Armed protection or escort by law enforcement officials or security personnel before, during, or subsequent to legal proceedings;<br /> <br /> (2) Physical relocation to an alternate residence;<br /> <br /> (3) Housing expenses;<br /> <br /> (4) Appropriate documents to establish a new identity, including documentation created in coordination with federal authorities;<br /> <br /> (5) Transportation or storage of personal possessions;<br /> <br /> (6) Basic living expenses, including food, transportation, utility costs, and health care;<br /> <br /> (7) Support, advocacy, and other services to provide for the safe transition of witnesses into a new environment; or<br /> <br /> (8) Other services as needed and approved by the attorney general.<br /> <br /> ADMINISTRATION AND FUNDING<br /> <br /> This bill requires the attorney general to issue appropriate guidelines, which must include a process by which local governments may apply for grants. Information relating to a witness participating in a program receiving funds from the pilot program is confidential and not subject to disclosure under the open records law.<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes the attorney general to solicit and receive grants, donations, and private funding to implement this bill. Program funds remaining unspent at the end of a fiscal year must be carried over into the budget of the program for the subsequent fiscal year, and must continue to be carried over from year to year until expended for the purposes prescribed in this bill.<br />