reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TN Code § 37-5-102 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-102. Purpose

  Through the department of children's services, the state of Tennessee, in cooperation with juvenile courts, local communities, schools and families will strive to provide timely, appropriate and cost-effective services for children in state custody and at risk of entering state custody so that these children can reach their full potential as productive, competent and healthy adults. The department is created to provide services to those children who are unruly, delinquent, dependent and neglected, and their respective families, as well as for children who are at imminent risk and in need of services to prevent entry into state custody, who are in state custody pending family reunification or other permanent placement, or as otherwise may be required for such children and their families pursuant to state law. In all cases, the services shall be to further the best interest of the child, and when appropriate, to preserve the relationship between the child and the family. Whenever possible, the services shall be provided in the community where the child lives and in a setting that is the least restrictive and, yet, the most beneficial to the child. For the children it serves, the department shall strive to:  Protect children from abuse, mistreatment or neglect;   Provide prevention, early intervention, rehabilitative and educational services;   Pursue appropriate and effective behavioral and mental health treatment;   Ensure that health care needs, both preventive and practical, are met; and   Keep children safe.     The department will work to preserve the safety and protect the standards in Tennessee communities through efforts to combat delinquency and other social ills concerning young people. The department shall work to continuously improve the management and coordination of services for the children and families of Tennessee identified in this section by ensuring thorough evaluations and assessments, appropriate and effective service delivery, timely permanency planning and supportive supervision and monitoring of the progress of children discharged from state custody.
TN Code § 37-5-104 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-104. Commissioner of Children's Services — Qualifications

  The governor shall appoint a person qualified by training and experience in the area of children's services to perform the duties of the commissioner of children's services. The appointee must be a graduate of an accredited college or university.   The commissioner shall hold office at the pleasure of the governor, and the commissioner's compensation shall be fixed by the governor and paid from the appropriation available to the department pursuant to § 8-23-101(c).   The commissioner shall have the necessary offices, equipment and supplies to carry out the duties of the office.
TN Code § 37-5-108 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-108. Conflict of Interest

 The department has the power and authority to establish by policy, rule or regulation provisions for prohibition of any conflict of interest that may occur within the department of children's services that may affect the constitutional rights of a child being served by the department of children's services. The department shall exercise this power and authority consistent with the provisions regarding conflicts of interest under title 12, chapter 4, part 1.
TN Code § 37-5-109 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-109. Licensing

 The responsibility for licensing children's programs, agencies, group homes, institutions or any other entity serving children that requires a license by law in Tennessee is as follows:   The department of children's services shall license or approve and supervise child abuse agencies, child caring institutions, child placing agencies, detention centers, family boarding or foster care homes, group care homes, maternity homes and temporary holding resources. Not later than January 1, 1999, the department shall develop and implement standards to ensure that children in foster care placements in public or private agencies are provided quality services that protect the safety and health of the children. Exceptions to the department's licensing responsibilities concerning the aforementioned categories are contained in § 37-5-503;   The department of human services shall license or approve and supervise child care centers, family child care homes and group child care homes. Exceptions to the department's licensing responsibilities concerning the aforementioned categories are contained in § 71-3-503;   The department of mental health and substance abuse services shall license or approve and supervise any institution, treatment resource, group residence, boarding home, sheltered workshop, activity center, rehabilitation center, hospital, community mental health center, counseling center, clinic, halfway house or other entity, by these or other names, providing mental health, intellectual disability or developmental disability services, respectively, or as required by title 33, chapter 2, part 4. Exceptions to the licensing responsibilities of the department of mental health and substance abuse services concerning the aforementioned categories are contained in § 33-2-403;   Any programs or portions of programs, or any place, home, facility, institution or other entity that is otherwise subject to licensure or approval by any other agency as required by law, shall continue to be licensed or approved by that agency unless notified to the contrary by the department of children's services; and   Subject to the exemptions set out in § 37-5-503, and pursuant to promulgated rules and regulations, the department will license or approve or supervise any entity that provides residential services to children and is not otherwise subject to licensure, approval, certification or supervision by any other agency as required by state law.
TN Code § 37-5-110 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-110. Contracts/leases

  Contracts or leases entered into prior to May 21, 1996, with respect to any program or function transferred to the department of children's services with any entity, corporation, agency, enterprise or person, shall continue in full force and effect as to all essential provisions in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contracts in existence on May 21, 1996, to the same extent as if such contracts had originally been entered into by and between such entity, corporation, agency, enterprise or person and the department of children's services, unless and until such contracts or leases are amended or modified by the parties thereto or until the expiration of such contract.   This chapter shall not be implemented in any manner that violates the prohibition against impairment of contract obligations as contained in article I, § 20 of the Constitution of Tennessee.
TN Code § 37-5-111 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-111. Funds

 The department, through its commissioner, shall have the authority to receive, administer, allocate, disburse and supervise any grants and funds from whatever sources, including, but not limited to, the federal, state, county and municipal governments on a state, regional, county or any other basis, with respect to any programs or responsibilities outlined in this chapter or assigned to the department by law, regulation or order. Exercise of this authority shall not be inconsistent with laws or regulations governing the appropriation and disbursement of funds as administered by the department of finance and administration.
TN Code § 37-5-112 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-112. Rules

 All current rules, regulations, orders, decisions and policies heretofore issued or promulgated by any departments of state government whose functions have been transferred under this chapter shall remain in full force and effect and shall hereafter be administered and enforced by the department. To this end, the department of children's services, through its commissioner, shall have the authority, consistent with the statutes and regulations pertaining to the programs and functions transferred herein, to modify or rescind orders, rules and regulations, decisions or policies heretofore issued and to adopt, issue or promulgate new orders, rules and regulations, decisions or policies as may be necessary for the administration of the programs or functions herein transferred. The application of rules and regulations and the policies of the department shall be uniform and consistent throughout the state.
TN Code § 37-5-113 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-113. Accreditation

 The department shall have its youth development centers accredited by a regionally or nationally recognized accreditation body such as the American Correctional Association, the Council on Accreditation or other accreditation agency.
TN Code § 37-5-114 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-114. Transfer From Department of Youth Development

  Any juvenile program that was administered by the department of youth development prior to May 21, 1996, shall be transferred to, and administered by, the department of children's services on and after May 21, 1996.   All staff, staff positions, offices, equipment, supplies, property, funds and other resources of any juvenile program under the department of youth development shall be transferred to the department of children's services.    References to the department of youth development or the division of juvenile probation relative to programs for juveniles appearing elsewhere in this code shall be deemed to be references to the department of children's services.    The code commission is directed to change references to the existing titles of officials, offices, agencies and entities, whenever they appear in this code, to conform to the titles of officials, offices, agencies and entities created by this chapter.   The code commission is authorized to make grammatical changes in the provisions of this code to effectuate such changes.        All contracts and leases entered into by the department of youth development relative to programs for juveniles shall continue in full force and effect as to all provisions in accordance with the terms and conditions of such contracts or leases in existence on May 21, 1996, unless and until such contracts or leases expire or are duly amended or modified by the parties thereto.   All rules, policies, orders and decisions related to juvenile services promulgated or issued by the department of youth development prior to, and in effect on May 21, 1996, shall remain in force and effect and shall be administered and enforced by the department of children's services until duly amended, repealed, expired, modified or superseded.
TN Code § 37-5-115 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-115. Review

 The department shall be reviewed pursuant to the requirements set out in the Tennessee Governmental Entity Review Law, compiled in title 4, chapter 29. Further, the department shall respond to requests for information from any other legislative committees including, but not limited to, the fiscal review committee, the health and welfare committee of the senate, the health committee of the house of representatives, and the government operations committees of the senate and house of representatives, to ensure that thorough review and oversight of the department is accomplished.
TN Code § 37-5-116 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-116. Non-Discrimination

 No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age or ability to pay, be excluded from participation, be denied the benefits of or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity operated by the department of children's services. This shall include, but not be limited to, contracts for services, employment or services to consumers.
TN Code § 37-5-117 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-117. Youth Service Officers — Qualifications

 After July 1, 1989, any person employed as a youth service officer by the department of children's services shall:   Be at least eighteen (18) years of age;   Be a citizen of the United States;   Have such person's fingerprints on file with the Tennessee bureau of investigation for criminal identification;   Have passed a physical examination by a licensed physician;   Have a good moral character as determined by investigation; and   Have been certified by a Tennessee licensed health care provider qualified in the psychiatric or psychological field as being free from any impairment, as set forth in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association at the time of the examination, that would, in the professional judgment of the examiner, affect the applicant's ability to perform an essential function of the job, with or without a reasonable accommodation.
TN Code § 37-5-118 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-118. Oath Requirement

  All persons employed to control and manage juvenile programs for the state shall, before entering upon the discharge of their duties, take and subscribe the following oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will fully, faithfully, impartially, and diligently perform all the duties required of me as  in the department of children's services, that I will execute the laws and regulations prescribed for the government of the department, so far as concerns my office; that I will accept no bribe, or other compensation during my continuance in office, other than such compensation as is allowed by law; and that I will, on no occasion, ill treat or abuse any juvenile in the care of the department.”   This oath shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state, and its violation by any of such officers or employees shall be perjury, punishable as in other cases of perjury.
TN Code § 37-5-120 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-120. Library Region — Creation

 There is created a library region to be composed of the youth development centers under the control of the department.
TN Code § 37-5-122 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-122. Post-Adoption Services and Searches — Fees and Charges

  The commissioner is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations establishing procedures, fees and charges for any service rendered relative to post-adoption search services and records handling services that are at any time required or permitted by law to be provided by the department.   The commissioner is empowered to promulgate rules and regulations to reduce or eliminate fees or charges for services, identified under the provisions of this section, based upon recipients' condition or ability to pay. The amount of any fee or charge established by the commissioner under the provisions of this section shall not exceed the cost of providing the service.   Any fees or charges received by the department under this section shall be deposited with the state treasurer in accordance with § 9-4-301.
TN Code § 37-5-123 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-123. Notification of Release of Juvenile Offender

   The department of children's services shall provide or contract with a private entity to provide to members of the public who have made a notification request, notification of the release of a juvenile adjudicated to have committed a delinquent act that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult from a facility operated by or under contract with the department to home placement as defined in § 37-1-102 [See compiler's note]. The chief administrator, or a person designated by the chief administrator, of a facility operated under contract with the department shall make available to the department, or any private entity under contract with the department, the information necessary to implement this section in a timely manner. The department, or the private entity under contract with the department, shall be responsible for retrieving the information and notifying the requester in accordance with regulations promulgated by the department.   The department may refuse the notification request of a person if, on a case by case basis, it finds that notification of release is not in the best interests of the juvenile being released and that such notification may result in harm to the juvenile.     The department shall promulgate rules in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, to implement the provisions of this section.   Notwithstanding §§ 37-1-145, 37-1-155 or 37-5-107 to the contrary, this section shall require the release of information relating to juveniles who have been adjudicated to have committed a delinquent act that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult. The release of information shall be limited to the extent necessary to comply with the provisions of this section.
TN Code § 37-5-124 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-124. Disclosure of the Death or Near Fatality of Persons in the Custody of the Department of Children's Services

  The commissioner of children's services shall provide a report of the fatality or near fatality of:  Any child in the custody of the department;   Any child who is the subject of an ongoing investigation by child protective services or has been the subject of an investigation by child protective services within the forty-five (45) days immediately preceding the child's fatality or near fatality; or   Any child whose fatality or near fatality resulted in an investigation of the safety and well-being of another child in the home;  within ten (10) business days of the fatality or near fatality of such child to the members of the senate and house of representatives representing the child and to the committee of the house of representatives having oversight over children and families. The district attorney for the judicial district in which the child was located must also receive a copy of the report provided to the legislators and may communicate with the legislators representing the child about the report and its contents or about any other otherwise confidential information that the legislators may have acquired pursuant to § 37-5-107(d).      The legislators representing the child shall be determined by the home address of the child. If the child was not a resident of Tennessee prior to being placed in the custody of the department, the legislators representing the child shall be determined by the address of the residence or facility in which the child was located at the time of the child's fatality or near fatality.   For the purposes of this section, “near fatality” shall have the same meaning as in § 37-5-107.
TN Code § 37-5-125 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-125. Model Programs for Adolescents at Risk

  Through contract with nonprofit corporations, community organizations, volunteer groups, churches, schools and family resource centers, the department of children's services is authorized to establish in each grand division two (2) model after school or summer programs, or both, for young adolescents at risk of placement in the custody of the state. An entity may contract with the department to operate more than one (1) program. Each such model program shall serve not more than twenty-five (25) adolescents and shall strive to improve self-esteem, motivation, responsibility, achievement and goal setting through a variety of activities including, but not necessarily limited to, counseling, tutoring, mentoring, field trips, cultural enrichment experiences, team sports and team projects and problem solving. State funding for each such model program shall not exceed eight thousand two hundred fifty dollars ($8,250) per program.   The department shall promulgate policies and guidelines defining:  The phrase “young adolescents at risk of placement in the custody of the state;” and   The minimum requirements and components for programs established and funded pursuant to subsection (a).     On or before January 15 of each year, the department shall evaluate the success of such programs and shall report findings and recommendations to the judiciary committee of the senate and the committee of the house of representatives having oversight over children and families.
TN Code § 37-5-126 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 37 - Juveniles|Chapter 5 - Department of Children's Services|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 37-5-126. Children's Mental Health Care — Development of Plan, Projects and Programs

 Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the department shall assist the council on children's mental health care in developing a plan that will establish demonstration sites in certain geographic areas where children's mental health care is child-centered, family-driven, and culturally and linguistically competent and that provides a coordinated system of care for children's mental health needs in this state. The department shall also involve the council in the development of interagency projects and programs, whether state or federally funded, related to children's mental health care, except where otherwise prohibited by state or federal law.