Governor Lee signs Savannah Grace Copeland Act aimed at increasing funding for child advocacy
POWELL, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed the Savannah Grace Copeland Act on Wednesday May 21, seeking to increase state funding for child advocacy.
The act requires that if the state's general fund grows by at least one percent, the state has to increase the funding for the contracts of child advocacy centers in each judicial district by three percent.
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It additionally says that the Department of Children's Services has to increase contracts for child advocacy centers to a base rate of $127,855.98 and forensic child interviewer contracts to a base of $85,000 per contracted interviewer. Finally, the bill would require the funds given to the advocacy centers to be used according to a specific formula.
The bill is named after a 13-year-old Powell girl who was murdered in October 2024. Her father has encouraged the legislature to work on increasing access to mental health.
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The bill passed the House and Senate earlier this year and is scheduled to go into effect on July 1. 6 News' Lori Tucker and Attorney Greg Isaacs discussed the bill in April. Copeland's father also spoke to 6 News after his daughter's death.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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