Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB2081: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to abuse of children.
Status: Chaptered, May 26, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary Present law establishes the Tennessee second look commission, which reviews an appropriate sampling of cases involving a second or subsequent incident of severe child abuse in order to provide recommendations and findings to the general assembly regarding whether or not severe child abuse cases are handled in a manner that provides adequate protection to the children of this state. This bill adds the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services, or the commissioner's designee, to the commission. REQUESTS MADE BY SECOND LOOK COMMISSION Present law requires certain persons, teams, and agencies to provide all of the following to the second look commission upon request by the commission: Information and data concerning a second or subsequent incident of severe abuse. Cause the person most knowledgeable with the case to testify regarding any cases concerning a second or subsequent incident of severe abuse. Recommendations concerning where gaps and deficiencies may exist in the various systems involved in protecting children from severe child abuse. This bill removes the limitation that such information must concern a second or subsequent incident of severe child abuse, and requires, instead, that the information must be supplied for any case being reviewed by the commission. Additionally, the commission may request and have access to any records held by a state agency that are necessary for performance of the commission's duties and responsibilities. Further, any representative of the mental health disciplines involved in investigations conducted by provision of services to dependent and neglected youth must also provide the above to the commission upon request. SEVERE CHILD ABUSE — STRANGULATION Present law designates several acts that constitute se
What the bill says
From the amended text:
House Judiciary 1 Amendment No. 1 to HB2081 Farmer Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 1937* House Bill No. 2081 by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-3-804(a), is amended by adding the following as new subdivisions: (14) The commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services or the commissioner's designee; and (15) One (1) at large member with experience advocating for children, appointed by the commission's co-chairs. SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-3-804(b)(1)(A), is amended by deleting "subdivisions (a)(1)-(5)" wherever it appears and substituting "subdivisions (a)(1)-(5) and (a)(14)". SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-3-804(b)(1)(B)(i), is amended by deleting "(a)(6)-(13)" and substituting "(a)(6)-(13) and (a)(15)". SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-3-804(b)(1)(B)(ii), is amended by deleting "(a)(6)-(13)" and substituting "(a)(6)-(13) or (a)(15)". SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-3-809, is amended by deleting "child protective teams," and substituting "child protective teams or the provision of services to dependent and neglected youth,". SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-3-803, is amended by deleting subsection (d) and substituting: (d) The commission shall provide a report detailing the commission's findings and recommendations from a review of the appropriate sampling by no later than July 1, HA0992 2027, and annually thereafter, to the general assembly. The report must be …