AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 14; Title 36; Title 37; Title 39; Title 49; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to parental rights.
Impact
The legislation significantly impacts existing statutes concerning child custody and communication rights, reflecting a commitment to fostering strong and ongoing relationships between parents and their children, even in cases where parents may be separated or divorced. It is expected that the clarity provided by this bill will help reduce conflict over communication avenues in co-parenting situations and ensure children maintain regular contact with both parents.
Summary
SB2744 establishes new provisions within Tennessee's family law regarding parental rights by explicitly granting parents the right to have unimpeded access to telephonic and video conferencing communication with their children. This right is structured to ensure that such communications occur at least twice a week, during reasonable times and durations. The bill amends existing sections in Tennessee Code Annotated, particularly those related to parenting plans and the rights of parents during custody arrangements.
Sentiment
The sentiment surrounding SB2744 appears to be positive among legislators, as indicated by its unanimous approval in the voting results, which shows a collective agreement on the importance of maintaining parent-child relationships. This could imply a strong bipartisan support for reinforcing family structures and parental involvement, even in complex family dynamics.
Contention
While the bill received unanimous support, potential areas of contention could arise over its implementation. Questions may emerge regarding what constitutes 'reasonable times and durations' for communications, potentially leading to disputes between parents in practice. Furthermore, there might be challenges related to the technological provisions for video conferencing, especially in rural areas with limited access. Nonetheless, such concerns were not highlighted in the legislative discussions or voting records.
Crossfiled
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 14; Title 36; Title 37; Title 39; Title 49; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to parental rights.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 49; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to families' rights and responsibilities.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 49; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to families' rights and responsibilities.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 49; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to families' rights and responsibilities.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 49; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to families' rights and responsibilities.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 28; Title 29; Title 33; Title 34; Title 36; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to medical care of the young.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 28; Title 29; Title 33; Title 34; Title 36; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to medical care of the young.