Bill > HB2374

This bill modifies Tennessee law regarding bail and warrants, specifically concerning a defendant's failure to appear in court. It removes the requirement for courts to enter bench warrants or capias (court orders for arrest) into state or federal databases when a defendant fails to appear for a misdemeanor that is violent or sexual in nature, or for a felony that is not violent or sexual. The bill also extends the timeframe for courts to enter a bench warrant or capias for a failure to appear on a felony from three to ten business days. Furthermore, it changes the rule from requiring a court to relieve a surety (a person or entity that guarantees a defendant's appearance in court, often through a bail bond) of liability if the defendant hasn't been listed in databases, to authorizing the court to do so under these circumstances, provided the defendant was not placed on the available state or federal list or databases within five business days of the warrant's receipt by the issuing agency.