2023 Tennessee Code › Title 71 - WELFARE (§§ 71-1-101 — 71-7-103) › Chapter 5 - PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR POOR PERSONS (§§ 71-5-NEW — 71-5-2604) › Part 12 - FAMILIES FIRST COUNCILS (§§ 71-5-1201 — 71-5-1204) › Section 71-5-1203 - Tennessee opportunity pilot program grants

(a)
In fiscal year 2022, the department shall dedicate one hundred eighty-two million dollars ($182,000,000), subject to appropriations in the general appropriations act, from the department's existing surplus reserve of TANF funds to support the planning, implementation, and evaluation of four-year Tennessee opportunity pilot programs in six (6) communities and one (1) pilot program to be administered by the department with the goal of demonstrating the efficacy of well-implemented two-generation approaches to improving education, health, and economic outcomes for children and the adults in those children's lives.
(b)
(1)
By July 1, 2021, the department shall dedicate up to five million dollars ($5,000,000), subject to appropriations in the general appropriations act, from the funds dedicated in subsection (a) for Tennessee opportunity pilot planning grants. The department shall award no more than fifty (50) planning grants. The following entities may apply for a planning grant:
(A)
A political subdivision of this state;
(B)
A nonprofit corporation, created pursuant to title 48;
(C)
A development district, created pursuant to the Development District Act of 1965, compiled in title 13, chapter 14; and
(D)
A human resource agency, created pursuant to the Human Resource Agency Act of 1973, compiled in title 13, chapter 26.
(2)
The department shall award the planning grants no earlier than October 1, 2021, in amounts up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), subject to appropriations in the general appropriations act, to applicants that demonstrate commitment and capacity to create a compelling two-generation plan for increasing economic advancement and family well-being in the community. An application must include a detailed description of how the applicant intends to utilize evidence-based practices and evidence-informed practices, including, but not limited to:
(A)
Home visiting services;
(B)
High-quality child care programs and child care provider networks;
(C)
Wrap-around services;
(D)
After school and summer learning programs with curricula approved by the department of education;
(E)
Workforce training and apprenticeship programs;
(F)
Economic advancement supports, including transportation and housing;
(G)
High-quality data systems for accountability and continuous improvement; and
(H)
Other evidence-based and evidence-informed solutions identified by the community.
(3)
The department shall define and determine the grant application guidelines, award levels, and selection criteria.
(4)
The department shall select the planning grant recipient communities and ensure that the recipient communities represent a mix of urban, rural, and suburban populations in this state.
(c)
By May 1, 2022, and subject to subsection (d), the department shall award a four-year implementation grant up to twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000), subject to appropriations in the general appropriations act, to each of six (6) implementation grantees selected from the planning grant recipients that submitted the most compelling and qualified Tennessee opportunity pilot program plans pursuant to subdivision (b)(1). The department shall distribute an implementation grant to each selected implementation grantee in an amount of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000), subject to appropriations in the general appropriations act, over four (4) years with no single recipient receiving more than twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) over the course of the pilot.
(d)
The department shall select the implementation grantees and ensure that there are two (2) implementation grantees from each grand division and that there is a mix of urban, rural, and suburban populations in this state.
(e)
No earlier than October 1, 2021, the department shall select and fund a research partner or partners that will support the research and evaluation of the Tennessee opportunity pilot programs. Selected partners shall utilize scientific approaches to research and evaluation, such as randomized controlled trials.
(f)
In the event the federal government deems planning grants to be administrative costs, the department must utilize its remaining fiscal capacity for administrative costs to provide the grants. The remainder of funds dedicated for planning grants must be reallocated across the six (6) pilot program grantees with approval of the advisory board.
(g)
The department is authorized to enter into, or amend an existing, grant contract or other contract as necessary to ensure successful implementation and completion of the Tennessee opportunity pilot program created by this section, except that the department shall not enter into or amend a contract in a manner that causes the contract to extend beyond December 31, 2026.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 769,s 1, eff. 4/23/2024.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 51, Secs.s 3, s 4 eff. 3/21/2023.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 515, s 4, eff. 7/1/2021.
Acts 1996, ch. 950, § 27; 1999, ch. 520, § 47.