House Bill 34 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning the handling of juvenile records. Specifically, it modifies Section 37-1-133 by removing the previous restrictions on the use of a child's juvenile court disposition and evidence in other court proceedings, allowing such information to be used in specific circumstances, including pretrial reports for bond setting and presentence investigations following felony convictions. Additionally, it revises Section 37-1-153 to permit courts and probation officials to access juvenile records for pretrial and presentence report purposes when the defendant has previously been involved in juvenile court proceedings.

Furthermore, the bill updates Section 40-11-118 to include the defendant's prior juvenile record as a factor in assessing the risk they may pose to the community. These changes aim to clarify the circumstances under which juvenile records can be utilized in legal proceedings, thereby balancing the interests of public safety with the rights of juveniles. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 37-1-133, 37-1-153, 40-11-118