For Immediate Release
Monday, April 5, 2004

Nashville, TN-The "Robert 'Robbie' Nottingham Campus Crime Scene Investigation Act of 2004" (HB 2753, SB 2797), sponsored by Rep. Nathan Vaughn (D-Kingsport) and Sen. Tim Burchett (R-Knoxville), cleared its final hurdle in the General Assembly with a unanimous favorable vote Monday night in the Senate. The bill will now be sent to Governor Phil Bredesen (D) who is expected to sign it into law sometime in the next two weeks.

Under the legislation, which will take effect upon becoming law, campus deaths and rapes will be jointly investigated by local and campus police. Local police will take lead on death and murder investigations, while campus police will lead rape investigations.

The Nottingham family believes that foul play may have been involved in Robbie's death at East Tennessee State University a year ago, and has established a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest, and conviction of anyone responsible for the possible murder. Anyone with information about Robbie's death may report it anonymously by calling 1-888-251-7959 or visiting http://www.robbienottingham.com/.