Bill > HB0038

This bill amends Tennessee law to mandate that when a juvenile is found to have committed a third or subsequent delinquent act, the juvenile court must order the child's parent, legal custodian, or guardian to pay restitution to law enforcement agencies for their response and investigation expenses. The restitution amount is set at a minimum of $250 for acts that would be misdemeanors if committed by an adult, and a minimum of $500 for acts that would be felonies if committed by an adult, with a maximum restitution cap of $1,000. If the parent or guardian is found to be indigent, the court can waive the monetary restitution and instead require the parent or guardian to perform community service work. This legislation aims to hold parents or guardians financially accountable for repeated juvenile delinquent behavior and potentially incentivize closer supervision of children who are repeatedly involved in criminal activities. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Justice

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0038&ga=114