House Bill 361 amends Tennessee Code Annotated regarding orders of protection by making specific changes to the language concerning the jurisdiction of courts. The bill replaces the phrase "or the general sessions criminal court" with ", the general sessions criminal court, or a criminal court when the criminal court is hearing a criminal matter involving a domestic abuse victim, sexual assault victim, or stalking victim." Additionally, it modifies the reference to "the general sessions court" by substituting it with "the criminal court or the general sessions court."

These amendments aim to clarify the roles of different courts in handling cases related to domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking, ensuring that victims have access to appropriate legal recourse. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon becoming law, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these critical issues for public welfare.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 36-3-601(3)(E), 36-3-601