Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
A bill to cut down on child abuse cases in Tennessee by increasing the penalty for individuals who commit child abuse by “knowingly treating a child between the ages of nine and 17 in such a manner as to inflict injury” passed by a 21-0 vote in the full House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Republican Representatives Rebecca Alexander, Fred Atchley, Gino Bulso, Elaine Davis, Clay Doggett, Rick Eldridge, Andrew Farmer, Johnny Garrett, Kelly Keisling, William Lamberth, Mary Littleton, Lowell Russell, Rick Scarbrough, Tom Stinnett, Chris Todd, Ron Travis and Democrat Representatives G.A. Hardaway, Torrey C. Harris, Gloria Johnson, Jason Powell, and Joe Towns Jr. all voted in favor of the legislation.
Democrat Representative Gabby Salinas was the only committee member recorded as “present and not voting.”
House Bill 45 (HB0045), sponsored by Rep. Jake McCalmon (R-Franklin-District 63), would increase what is currently a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony for intentional child abuse infliction of injury.
Current state law dictates that abusing a child “in such a manner to inflict injury” is only a felony if the child is 8 years old or younger. If the child is at least 9 years old, it is a misdemeanor.
“Crimes against kids have become something I’ve become passionate about up here,” Rep. McCalmon told The Tennessee Conservative News. “I learned last year, in looking up different pieces of code, that without this law in place if you go and you steal a Louis Vuitton bag, that’s a Class E Felony. You could do up to 5 years in prison. If you put a nine-year-old in the hospital and you’re convicted, the most time you’ll spend is 11 months and 29 days. So essentially a year in jail.”
Now that HB0045 has passed in House Judiciary, the legislation will be considered by the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
