Signed by Governor Bill Lee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that establishes the Families' Rights and Responsibilities Act in Tennessee.

Highlights:

• Defines terms related to families and rights of families (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies the parental rights that are exclusively reserved to a parent of a child without obstruction by or interference by the state government (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that this act does not prevent the department of children's services from conducting an investigation or otherwise carrying out its responsibilities under state law (Sec. 1

• Prohibits a public employee, other than law enforcement personnel, shall not encourage or coerce a child to withhold information from the child's parent (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits a public employee shall not withhold from a child's parent information that is relevant to the physical, emotional, or mental health of the child (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that otherwise provided by statutory law, case law, or court order, a government entity, a healthcare provider, or any other person shall not knowingly take any of the following actions with regard to a minor without first obtaining the consent of a parent of the minor (Sec. 1): 

•  Treat, profess to diagnose, operate on, or prescribe for any physical ailment, physical injury, or deformity;

• Prescribe, dispense, deliver, or administer any drug or medication;

• Render psychological services; and 

• Render counseling services.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes the Families' Rights and Responsibilities Act in Tennessee.

Highlights:

• Defines terms related to families and rights of families (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies the parental rights that are exclusively reserved to a parent of a child without obstruction by or interference by the state government (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that this act does not prevent the department of children's services from conducting an investigation or otherwise carrying out its responsibilities under state law (Sec. 1

• Prohibits a public employee, other than law enforcement personnel, shall not encourage or coerce a child to withhold information from the child's parent (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits a public employee shall not withhold from a child's parent information that is relevant to the physical, emotional, or mental health of the child (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that otherwise provided by statutory law, case law, or court order, a government entity, a healthcare provider, or any other person shall not knowingly take any of the following actions with regard to a minor without first obtaining the consent of a parent of the minor (Sec. 1): 

•  Treat, profess to diagnose, operate on, or prescribe for any physical ailment, physical injury, or deformity;

• Prescribe, dispense, deliver, or administer any drug or medication;

• Render psychological services; and 

• Render counseling services.

Full Bill Text