Bill > HB2078

This bill, known as the "Parental Rights Protection Act," amends Tennessee law to establish expedited hearing procedures for certain bond conditions that affect parental rights. Specifically, if a bond condition is imposed that restricts a parent's contact, custody, or visitation with a child who is not a victim of the alleged crime, the court must hold an expedited hearing within fifteen days to review the condition. If this hearing doesn't occur within that timeframe, the bond condition becomes void. Before imposing or extending such a restriction prior to a conviction, the government must prove by clear and convincing evidence that there's a threat of harm to the child, that less restrictive options won't work, and that the restriction is in the child's best interest, with a presumption that parental contact is generally in the child's best interest.