House Bill 7017 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-315, to introduce a new provision regarding stalking offenses. The bill stipulates that if a person commits stalking, aggravated stalking, or especially aggravated stalking against a victim who is a healthcare provider performing abortions, the offense will be classified as a hate crime. Consequently, the punishment for such offenses will be elevated by one classification level compared to the standard penalties outlined in the existing law.

Additionally, the bill defines "healthcare provider" as any healthcare professional who is licensed, registered, certified, or permitted under Title 63 or Title 68 and is regulated by the Department of Health or its associated agencies. This legislation is set to take effect on October 1, 2023, emphasizing the state's commitment to protecting healthcare providers from targeted violence based on their professional activities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-17-315