Senate Bill 304, also known as House Bill 583, amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 24, Chapter 7, concerning the admissibility of child forensic interviews in legal proceedings. The bill modifies the requirements for the admissibility of video recordings of these interviews by stipulating that either the child or the forensic interviewer must testify under oath that the recording is a true and correct representation of the events, and that the child is available for cross-examination.

Additionally, the bill revises the qualifications for forensic interviewers by allowing those employed by child advocacy centers to be considered valid if they meet certain criteria, including accreditation by a nationally recognized agency, regardless of whether the center is a nonprofit. It also permits interviewers employed by federal agencies to conduct interviews as part of federal investigations. These changes aim to enhance the legal framework surrounding child forensic interviews while ensuring that the rights of the child and the integrity of the interview process are maintained.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 24-7-123(b)(1), 24-7-123, 24-7-123(b)(3)(A)