House Bill 1787, also known as Senate Bill 2178, amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-13-514, which addresses criminal offenses related to prostitution. The bill modifies the definitions of offenses related to patronizing prostitution by deleting the previous subdivision (a)(2) and replacing it with a new definition that includes specific categories of victims: law enforcement officers, law enforcement officers posing as minors, individuals with intellectual disabilities, and minors under eighteen years of age.

Additionally, the bill revises the penalties associated with these offenses. It establishes that patronizing prostitution involving a law enforcement officer or a minor is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, while offenses involving a law enforcement officer posing as a minor or a person with an intellectual disability are classified as Class B felonies. Patronizing prostitution involving a minor is elevated to a Class A felony. Furthermore, the bill imposes additional penalties for offenses occurring within one and a half miles of a school, mandating a minimum of seven days of incarceration and a fine of at least $1,000. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-13-514