Amends TCA Title 4; Title 36; Title 37 and Title 68.

Under present law, there is created the Tennessee child fatality prevention team ("team"). The team is composed of relevant state commissioners; two members each from the state house and senate, to be appointed by their respective speakers; the attorney general and reporter; director of the TBI; two physicians; and others. This bill requires the addition of three new members to the team. Each of the new members must be residents of this state and the parent of a child under 18. The governor, the speaker of the senate, and the speaker of the house must each appoint one of these members. TERM OF SERVICE This bill establishes a period of service of three years for each of the three new members; however, if the person's youngest child reaches 18 before the end of the person's term, then the person's appointment expires on the date the person's youngest child reaches 18, and the vacancy created by the expiration is filled by the appointing authority in the same manner as the original appointment. COMPENSATION This bill clarifies that each person appointed pursuant to this bill serves without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in attending each meeting and in performing other duties provided for under state law. All reimbursement expenses must be in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations promulgated by the commissioner of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general. DUTIES OF TEAM Present law requires the team to carry out the following duties: (1) Review reports from the local child fatality review teams; (2) Report to the governor and the general assembly concerning the state team's activities and its recommendations for changes to any law, rule, and policy that would promote the safety and well-being of children; (3) Undertake annual statistical studies of the incidence and causes of child fatalities in this state. The studies must include an analysis of community and public and private agency involvement with the decedents and their families prior to and subsequent to the deaths; (4) Provide training and written materials to the local teams established under state law to assist them in carrying out their duties. Such written materials may include model protocols for the operation of local teams; (5) Develop a protocol for the collection of data regarding child deaths; (6) Upon request of a local team, provide technical assistance to such team, including the authorization of another medical or legal opinion on a particular death; and (7) Periodically assess the operations of child fatality prevention efforts and make recommendations for changes as needed. This bill requires the team to distribute the state team's annual report to each local education agency in this state and to the board of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.