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An ordinance amending the Metropolitan Code of Laws Section 5.16.075, Victims assistance assessment, to bring fees into compliance with state law.
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WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Code of Laws Section 5.16.075(A) provides that, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-24-109, a forty-five-dollar ($45.00) victims assistance assessment shall be collected by the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk in specifically enumerated circumstances; and,
WHEREAS, Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-24-109 was recently amended on May 22, 2026, by Public Chapter No. 1115, and now provides that a one-hundred twenty-five dollar ($125.00) victims assistance assessment shall be collected by the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk; and,
WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Code of Laws Section 5.16.075(A) and (F) shall be amended to reflect the increased amount provided in the state statute; and,
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the citizens of Nashville and Davidson County that the language of Section 5.16.075(A) and (F) be amended.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That Section 5.16.075 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws shall be amended by deleting Subsection A in its entirety and replacing it with the following:
A. In accordance with the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 40-24-109, a one-hundred and twenty-five dollar victims assistance assessment shall be collected by the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk from any person who:
1. Enters a plea of guilty;
2. Is found guilty by a judge or jury;
3. Enters a plea of nolo contendere;
4. Enters a plea, pursuant to any of the diversionary sentencing statutes, to any criminal offense described in subsection B. of this section;
5. Is found guilty, or enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, to the offense of attempting or conspiring to commit any offense described in subsection B. of this section; or
6. Is found to be criminally responsible as principal for the commission of any offense described in subsection B. of this section.
Section 2. That Section 5.16.075 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws shall be amended by deleting Subsection F in its entirety and replacing it with the following:
F. The victims assistance assessment authorized by this section shall be in addition to all other taxes, costs, and fines. The first fifteen dollars ($15.00) of each assessment shall be retained by the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk to defray processing and handling costs. The remaining one-hundred and ten dollars ($110.00) shall be disbursed as follows:
1. Twenty-two dollars ($22.00) shall be transmitted to CASA, Inc., to defray the costs of providing the services to victims of crime designated by the program’s mission statement and guidelines.
2. Twenty-two dollars ($22.00) shall be transmitted to the Mary Parrish Center to defray the costs of providing the services to victims of crime designated by the program’s mission statement and guidelines.
3. Twenty-two dollars ($22.00) shall be transmitted to the YWCA Domestic Violence program to defray the costs of providing the services to victims of crime designated by the program’s mission statement and guidelines.
4. Twenty-two dollars ($22.00) shall be transmitted to the Nashville Children’s Alliance to defray the costs of providing the services to victims of crime designated by the program’s mission statement and guidelines.
5. Twenty-two dollars ($22.00) shall be transmitted to the Sexual Assault Center to defray the costs of providing the services to victims of crime designated by the program’s mission statement and guidelines.
Section 3. That this Ordinance shall take effect after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.