TN HB0792

Summary of HB0792 - Tennessee Sexual Violence Justice Act

• Law enforcement personnel investigating sexual assault crimes must complete 16 hours of annual sensitivity training on trauma-informed, victim-centered approaches, with training required within 120 days of starting in such roles

• TBI must test all previously untested sexual assault evidence collection kits by January 1, 2026, and beginning July 1, 2025, must test new kits within 90 days of receipt; if unable to meet deadlines, testing must be outsourced to accredited private labs

• Sexual assault evidence collection kit retention period increases from 10 years to 25 years

• Victims compensation claim deadlines extended to 12 years for sexual offenses when injury manifestation is diagnosed later; cooperation and reporting requirements waived for victims of sexual offenses, domestic violence, human trafficking, and stalking

• Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs) granted oversight authority to conduct audits and reviews of local law enforcement sexual assault investigations, with annual reporting to the General Assembly