Tennessee HB 951: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates the offense of negligently, by act or omission, engaging in conduct that places a child in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40, Chapter 35.

Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1591
By Bailey

HOUSE BILL 951
By Littleton

HB0951
001629
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39
and Title 40, Chapter 35, relative to criminal
offenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-15-401, is amended by inserting
the following as a new subsection (d) and redesignating existing subsections (d) through (h)
accordingly:
(d)
(1) Any person who negligently, by act or omission, engages in conduct
that places a child in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or
mental impairment, commits a Class A misdemeanor; except that, if the abused
child is eight (8) years of age or less, the penalty is a Class D felony.
(2) For purposes of this subsection (d), a person engages in conduct that
places a child in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental
impairment if the person's conduct related to the controlled substance
methamphetamine or any other controlled substance listed in chapter 17, part 4
of this title, except a Schedule VI controlled substance, exposes the child to the
controlled substance and an analysis of a specimen of the child's blood, hair,
fingernail, urine, or other bodily substance indicates the presence of
methamphetamine or any other controlled substance listed in chapter 17, part 4
of this title, except a Schedule VI controlled substance, in the child's body.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2021, the public welfare requiring it.