Bill > HB1699

This bill amends Tennessee law to expand the definition of a dependent and neglected child to include those whose parents or guardians are unable to provide care and control due to circumstances beyond their control, such as a natural disaster or a severe, unexpected illness. Importantly, this new provision, found in Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) Section 37-1-102(b)(13)(K), will only apply if a court makes this specific finding during an adjudicatory hearing, which is a formal court proceeding to determine the facts of a case, as outlined in TCA Section 37-1-129(b)(1)(B). The bill aims to provide legal recognition for situations where parental inability to care for a child is not due to fault but rather to unavoidable external factors.