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

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

(a)  There shall be created, within the Nashville office of the department of health, the Tennessee informational clearinghouse on teenage pregnancy.

(b)  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.

(c)  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.

(d)  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.

(e)  Until such time as the select committee on children and youth terminates pursuant to the provisions of § 3-15-206, 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 such committee concerning administration of the Tennessee informational clearinghouse on teenage pregnancy.

[Acts 1987, ch. 441, § 1; 1988, ch. 1005, §§ 1, 7, 8; 1988, ch. 1011, § 5; 1988, ch. 1012, § 4; 1988, ch. 1021, § 3.]