Tennessee § 37-3-501 - Informational clearinghouse — Toll-free telephone service for inquiries — Promotional activities — Annual report.

§ 37-3-501. Informational clearinghouse — Toll-free telephone service for inquiries — Promotional activities — Annual report.

There shall be created, within the Nashville office of the department of health, the Tennessee informational clearinghouse on teenage pregnancy. The department shall obtain and operate a toll-free telephone line for the express purpose of receiving and encouraging inquiries for informational services. The department shall assist callers by providing informational services needed to plan programs and presentations, to organize teen pregnancy prevention activities, to organize parenting education and assistance programs for teen parents, and to undertake other activities and programs to address problems associated with teenage pregnancy. The department shall regularly undertake appropriate activities to inform and remind the citizens of this state of the services provided by the clearinghouse and of the availability of the toll-free telephone line. Such promotional activities shall regularly include, but not necessarily be limited to, press releases, posters, speeches, and public service announcements on radio and television. The department shall undertake special activities to improve public awareness of the clearinghouse within those counties and areas of the state in which teenage pregnancy rates are highest. In preparing for and responding to requests for information collected and maintained within the clearinghouse, the department shall provide a level of service that is at least comparable to the level of service so provided by the children's services commission prior to July 1, 1988. [Deleted by 2015 amendment] Acts 1987, ch. 441, § 1; 1988, ch. 1005, §§ 1, 7, 8; 1988, ch. 1011, § 5; 1988, ch. 1012, § 4; 1988, ch. 1021, § 3; 2011, ch. 410, § 3(m); 2013, ch. 236, § 21; 2015, ch. 212, § 1. Compiler's Notes. The Teen Pregnancy Information Clearinghouse serves as a central source of information on teen pregnancy statistics, resource materials, and services. Also available is information on teen pregnancy programs in the state and upcoming conferences and workshops. The toll-free telephone number, within Tennessee only, is 877-461-8277. Acts 1988, ch. 1005, § 7 provided that all information collected and maintained within the Tennessee informational clearinghouse by the children's services commission prior to July 1, 1988, shall be transferred to the Tennessee informational clearinghouse within the department of health and environment (now department of health). For the Preamble to the act concerning the prohibition against establishment of a special committee if there is a standing committee on the same subject, please refer to Acts 2011, ch. 410. Amendments. The 2015 amendment deleted (e) which read, “The department of health and each department of state government that administers services to children and families shall jointly report at least once annually, on or before December 31, to the judiciary committee of the senate and the civil justice committee of the house of representatives concerning administration of the Tennessee informational clearinghouse on teenage pregnancy.” Effective Dates. Acts 2015, ch. 212, § 3. April 20, 2015. Cross-References. Project RAP, title 71, ch. 3, part 7. Tennessee resource mothers program, title 68, ch. 1, part 14. Collateral References. Propriety of prophylactic availability programs. 52 A.L.R.5th 477.