House Bill 625 amends Tennessee Code Annotated to introduce a rebuttable presumption regarding mental health evaluations for individuals charged with certain offenses. Specifically, it establishes that if a person is charged with an offense that requires them to serve at least 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for release, and they are ordered by the court to undergo a mental health evaluation, there is a presumption that they meet the criteria for emergency detention and examination. This presumption can only be challenged by clear and convincing evidence demonstrating that the individual does not pose an imminent substantial likelihood of serious harm.

The bill redesignates the existing section 33-6-401 as subsection (a) and adds a new subsection (b) detailing these provisions. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, emphasizing the importance of mental health considerations in the judicial process for serious offenses.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 33-6-401