Bill > HB2429

This bill revises several aspects of Tennessee law concerning children, primarily focusing on juvenile court proceedings. It introduces a new provision allowing a prevailing party in certain child-related juvenile court cases, such as those involving custody, visitation, relocation, or support, to recover their attorney's fees and court costs from the losing party, with an exception for the department. Additionally, the bill allows juvenile courts to temporarily suspend child support obligations when a child is removed from a parent's custody due to dependency and neglect allegations. A significant new requirement mandates that parents involved in establishing or modifying custody or parenting schedules for children born outside of marriage must attend a parent educational seminar, which is at least four hours long and covers topics like child well-being, the court process, co-parenting skills, adverse childhood experiences, and dispute resolution; while parents are responsible for the seminar's cost, indigent parents may have fees waived, and courts can grant waivers for good cause, such as domestic violence, though willful failure to attend can result in contempt of court or be considered in custody decisions. Finally, juvenile courts are given discretion to order parents, guardians, or custodians to attend this educational seminar in dependency and neglect cases if it's deemed beneficial for the child or case resolution.

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https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB2429&ga=114