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 similar evidence requirements. Additionally, the bill clarifies that these provisions apply 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 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 also include specific language changes to existing statutes to reflect these new timeframes and requirements. 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)