Tennessee House Bill HB0915

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/23
• Refer: 2/2/23

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36 and Title 37, relative to children.

Impact

The proposed changes are geared towards increasing accountability of parents or guardians in adherence to their responsibilities as laid out in a permanency plan. By making it explicit that substantial noncompliance can be noted after a designated period, the bill aims to accelerate interventions needed in child welfare cases where a child's welfare is at risk due to parental neglect or failure to comply with required guidelines. This amendment could lead to a more streamlined process for addressing noncompliance, ultimately attempting to safeguard the interests of children in precarious familial situations.

Summary

House Bill 915 (HB0915) is an act that seeks to amend the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Title 36 and Title 37, which relate to issues concerning children. The bill introduces provisions regarding parental compliance with a child's permanency plan and specifies conditions under which substantial noncompliance by a parent or guardian can be recognized. The inclusion of these amendments reflects a focused approach to enhancing child welfare in alignment with existing state laws on family and child services.

Sentiment

The sentiment around HB0915 appears to be largely supportive among child welfare advocates and lawmakers focused on child and family services. These stakeholders generally view the bill as a necessary step in addressing and mitigating issues of neglect. However, there may still be concerns regarding the implementation of the amendments and how they might affect current family dynamics, indicating a mixture of optimism and caution among different groups of community members.

Contention

Potential points of contention cited in discussions around the bill could include the parameters that define 'substantial noncompliance' and how those may vary across different family situations. Critics might argue that without clear guidelines, the application of such criteria could lead to inconsistencies or abuses in decision-making regarding parental rights and responsibilities. There could also be debates surrounding the balance between intervening in family matters for the child's sake and respecting familial autonomy.