House Bill 973 amends Tennessee law regarding the commencement of prosecution for certain offenses, particularly focusing on child sexual abuse. The bill establishes that for offenses occurring between July 1, 2019, and July 1, 2025, prosecution must be initiated within twenty-five years from the victim's eighteenth birthday, provided that admissible and credible evidence corroborating the allegations is presented. For offenses occurring on or after July 1, 2025, this timeframe extends to thirty years, with the same evidentiary requirements. Additionally, the bill clarifies that it applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2019, and to those committed prior to this date only if the statute of limitations had not expired by July 1, 2019.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a new provision for child sexual abuse cases occurring on or after July 1, 2025, allowing prosecution to be initiated within thirty years from the victim's eighteenth birthday or within three years from the discovery of the abuse if it was not known at the time. The amendments aim to provide clearer guidelines for the prosecution of child sexual abuse cases while ensuring that victims have adequate time to come forward with their allegations. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40-2-101(q)(3)(B), 40-2-101, 40-2-101(q)(4), 28-3-116(b)(2), 28-3-116, 28-3-116(b)