2010 Tennessee Code
Title 37 - Juveniles
Chapter 1 - Juvenile Courts and Proceedings
Part 1 - General Provisions
37-1-162 - Supplement and account for juvenile court services improvement.

37-1-162. Supplement and account for juvenile court services improvement.

(a)  A supplement shall be provided by the state each year to counties for the improvement of juvenile court services. Such supplements shall be administered through the commission on children and youth and distributed by the commission to participating counties. Where more than one (1) court exercises juvenile court jurisdiction within a single county, each court shall receive an equitable share of the county's allocation, as determined by percentage of juvenile court intakes or some other appropriate measure. Each court accepting such funds shall employ a youth services officer to be appointed and supervised by the court.

(b)  The commission shall promulgate regulations in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, regarding application and reporting procedures, adequate minimum educational requirements for youth services officers, and permissible uses of funds received under this section, including, but not limited to, requirements that such funds shall not be used to supplant funds formerly expended by counties for juvenile court services since the beginning of fiscal year 1981-1982, to pay salaries or personal expenses of juvenile court judges, or to construct or remodel jails or other facilities used for the detention or housing of adults alleged to have committed or been convicted of criminal offenses.

(c)  There is hereby established an account of such an amount as may be appropriated to improve county juvenile court services as provided in this section. Counties may expend funds received from the state for the purpose of improving juvenile court services or providing community alternatives to detention to pay for the alternative placement and transportation services, and to develop other alternatives to jail for children, including emergency foster homes, runaway/emergency shelters, juvenile summons, crisis intervention, home detention, attendant care and other similar programs.

[Acts 1984, ch. 856, §§ 2, 3.]