Senate Bill 372 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 5, to provide a clear definition of "intellectual disability." The bill specifies that an intellectual disability is characterized by significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning, deficits in adaptive behavior, and that it must have manifested during the developmental period or by the age of eighteen. This new definition aims to standardize the understanding of intellectual disabilities within the legal framework.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the department is responsible for determining whether any child placed in a youth development center has an intellectual disability. This provision ensures that appropriate assessments are conducted for children in these facilities, thereby promoting better support and resources for those identified with such disabilities. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law, emphasizing the importance of addressing the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Tennessee.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 37-5-103