HB0384
HB0384
HB0384
By Crawford
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as "Evelyn Boswell's Law."
believes that a child under the parent's charge and care is missing, the parent shall
report the child as being missing to a law enforcement agency or the Tennessee bureau
of investigation.
(b) Whenever the parent knows, learns, or believes that a minor child under the
parent's charge and care is missing, the parent shall make the report under subsection
(a) within a reasonable time after determining that the child is missing, but in no event
more than twenty-four (24) hours after determining that the child is missing. As used in
this section, "minor child" means a person who is twelve (12) years of age or younger.
(c)
commits the offense of failure to report a missing child if the parent fails to make,
or fails to cause to be made, the report required under subsection (b) with
(d) This section does not prohibit prosecution under any other law.
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(e) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the parent made
reasonably diligent efforts to verify the whereabouts and safety of the minor child during
the period of any delay in making the report required by subsection (b).
(f) A person who knowingly makes a false allegation against a parent of failure to
report a missing child as required by this section, in addition to any other penalties
provided for by law, may be prosecuted for the offense of false reports under § 39-16-
502, and the court may order the accuser to pay all litigation expenses, including, but not
limited to, reasonable attorney's fees, discretionary costs, and other costs incurred by
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2021, the public welfare requiring it, and
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