House Bill 7089 amends Tennessee law regarding the mental health of detainees. It introduces a new provision that requires law enforcement officers, when encountering individuals they believe may require mental health detention, to take those individuals into custody for immediate examination. This examination is to determine the need for care and treatment, and it must occur prior to any arrest or charges being filed against the individual.

The bill specifically adds a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33, Chapter 6, Part 4, which outlines the responsibilities of officers during stops, searches, or detainments when mental health concerns are suspected. This legislative change aims to ensure that individuals who may be experiencing mental health crises receive appropriate evaluation and care before facing criminal charges. The act is set to take effect as soon as it is enacted into law.