TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Liz Slagle Todaro on Jun 29, 2021

Several new state laws intended to protect children are set to take effect on Thursday, including sentencing legislation to prevent parole and probation for those found guilty of certain violent crimes, including child abuse, child sexual abuse, felony solicitation of a minor and producing child pornography, reports The Chattanoogan.com. Also going into effect is Eli’s Law, which allows the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) to investigate the birth of subsequent children born to parents who have had a previous child removed from their custody, as well as Evelyn Boswell’s Law, which provides that parents who do not report children missing to law enforcement within 24 hours could face Class A misdemeanor charges. Other new laws aimed at child protection provide for more DCS oversight of adoptive families receiving subsidies, remove the statute of limitations for commercial sex trafficking of a child and expand the definitions of child neglect and endangerment and severe child abuse to include exposure to certain drugs such as methamphetamines.