House Bill 398 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated, particularly focusing on the roles and responsibilities of paramedics in determining and pronouncing death. The bill allows licensed paramedics, who have completed specific training, to make an actual determination and pronouncement of death after attempting resuscitation, while also clarifying that this authority does not extend to patients in hospitals. Additionally, it mandates that paramedics complete a course on this subject before being licensed and retain proof of their training for verification by the board.

Furthermore, the bill modifies existing regulations by changing the timeframe for certain actions from "thirty (30) days" to "forty-five (45) days." It establishes that a paramedic's failure to comply with the standards for determining and pronouncing death may result in disciplinary action by the board. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law for rule promulgation purposes, while other provisions will take effect on January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 68-1-128(h)(2), 68-1-128
Amended with SA0783 -- 03/30/2026: 68-1-128(h)(2), 68-1-128
Amended with SA0783, HA0803 -- 04/20/2026: 68-1-128(h)(2), 68-1-128