Public Chapter 516

HOUSE BILL NO. 731

By Representatives Boner, Goins, Beavers

Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 1066

By Senators Haynes, Person

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-1-159, relative to appeals of final orders or judgments of the juvenile court.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1.

(a) Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-1-159(a), is amended by deleting the first sentence and by substituting instead the following:

The juvenile court shall be a court of record; and any appeal from any final order or judgment in a delinquency proceeding, filed under this chapter, except a proceeding pursuant to § 37-1-134, may be made to the criminal court or court having criminal jurisdiction which shall hear the testimony of witnesses and try the case de novo; and any appeal from any final order or judgment in an unruly child proceeding or dependent and neglect proceeding, filed under this chapter, may be made to the circuit court which shall hear the testimony of witnesses and try the case de novo.

(b) Tennessee Code Annotated, Sections 37-1-159(b) and (c), are amended by deleting the words "circuit court" wherever they appear and by substituting instead the words "criminal court or circuit court".

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.