| 1 | 1 | | |
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| 2 | 2 | | <BillNo> <Sponsor> |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | HOUSE BILL 1170 |
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| 5 | 5 | | By Hemmer |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | |
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| 8 | 8 | | HB1170 |
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| 9 | 9 | | 003343 |
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| 10 | 10 | | - 1 - |
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| 11 | 11 | | |
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| 12 | 12 | | AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36; |
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| 13 | 13 | | Title 37 and Title 39, relative to child neglect. |
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| 14 | 14 | | |
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| 15 | 15 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: |
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| 16 | 16 | | SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-1-102(b), is amended by adding |
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| 17 | 17 | | the following as a new subdivision: |
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| 18 | 18 | | ( ) "Neglect" does not include permitting a child, whose basic needs are met and |
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| 19 | 19 | | who is of sufficient age and maturity to avoid harm or unreasonable risk of harm, to |
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| 20 | 20 | | engage in independent activities, including, but not limited to: |
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| 21 | 21 | | (A) Traveling to and from school, including by walking, running, or |
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| 22 | 22 | | bicycling; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (B) Traveling to and from nearby commercial or recreational facilities; |
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| 24 | 24 | | (C) Playing outdoors; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (D) Remaining at home unattended for a reasonable period of time; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | (E) Other similar independent activity; |
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| 27 | 27 | | SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-15-401, is amended by adding |
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| 28 | 28 | | the following as a new subsection: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (j) As used in this section, "neglect" does not include permitting a child, whose |
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| 30 | 30 | | basic needs are met and who is of sufficient age and maturity to avoid harm or |
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| 31 | 31 | | unreasonable risk of harm, to engage in independent activities, including, but not limited |
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| 32 | 32 | | to: |
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| 33 | 33 | | (1) Traveling to and from school, including by walking, running, or |
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| 34 | 34 | | bicycling; |
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| 35 | 35 | | (2) Traveling to and from nearby commercial or recreational facilities; |
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| 36 | 36 | | |
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| 37 | 37 | | |
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| 38 | 38 | | - 2 - 003343 |
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| 39 | 39 | | |
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| 40 | 40 | | (3) Playing outdoors; |
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| 41 | 41 | | (4) Remaining at home unattended for a reasonable period of time; and |
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| 42 | 42 | | (5) Other similar independent activity. |
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| 43 | 43 | | SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. |
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