House Bill 1845 and Senate Bill 1987 propose amendments to the Tennessee Code Annotated regarding the evaluation of children in contested legal proceedings involving guardians ad litem (GAL). The bills mandate that in any contested proceeding—whether related to custody, dependency, or neglect—the court must order an evaluation of the child by at least one qualified expert, unless it finds that such an examination is unnecessary for determining the child's best interests. The evaluations must be conducted by licensed professionals, including medical doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and licensed social workers, among others.

The expert is required to submit a sworn written report to the court and involved parties, detailing the child's medical and psychological history, current condition, and any recommendations for further evaluation or treatment. This report will serve as prima facie evidence regarding the child's condition and factors affecting their best interests, which can be challenged by competent evidence. Additionally, the GAL must consider the expert's findings when making recommendations, and if there is a significant deviation from the expert's conclusions, the GAL must provide a written explanation. The costs of the evaluations will be allocated among the parties based on their ability to pay.