Tennessee Bill Reporting Sexual Abuse of a Minor Seeking an Abortion (HB 574)

HB 574 requires a physician to report the suspected sexual abuse of a minor seeking an abortion if the minor is 17 years old or younger.

Under current state law, a physician has reasonable cause to report the sexual abuse of a minor if the minor seeking the abortion is under 13 years of age. This bill provides that if the minor who presents for an abortion is at least 13 years of age but no more than 17 years of age, and the physician has reasonable cause that there is child sexual abuse, then the physician must report that suspected abuse.

This would only apply when a physician performs elective abortion services as a part of the physician’s practice.

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Below is the original version of HB 574.

As introduced, HB 574 would require a physician to report the suspected sexual abuse of a minor if the minor seeking the abortion is under 18 years of age.

Under current state law, a physician has reasonable cause to report the sexual abuse of a minor if the minor seeking the abortion is under 13 years of age.

A physician who fails to comply would face civil penalties for each violation. A third or subsequent violation would be a Class A misdemeanor.

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Related Legislation

Companion bill to SB 487.

Related to HB 78, which would increase the fines for failing to report.

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Latest Action

2/4/19 – Introduced.

4/18/19 – Amended; passed the House in a 91-4 vote.

4/30/19 – Passed the Senate in a 29-0 vote.

5/21/19 – Signed into law by Republican Gov. Bill Lee.

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People