Tenn. Code § 37-2-402

Current through Acts 2023-2024, ch. 1069

Section 37-2-402 - Part definitions

As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Abandonment", for purposes of terminating the parental or guardian rights of a parent or a guardian of a child to that child in order to make that child available for adoption, has the same meaning as defined in § 36-1-102;

(2) "Abandonment of an infant" means, for purposes of terminating parental or guardian rights, "abandonment" of a child under one (1) year of age;

(3) "Agency" means a child care agency, as defined in title 71, chapter 3, part 5, or in chapter 5, part 5 of this title, regardless of whether such agency is licensed or approved, and includes the department of children's services;

(4) "Board" means an advisory review board appointed by a juvenile court judge, juvenile court judges, or the department of children's services as provided in this part;

(5) "Court" means the juvenile court having jurisdiction over the person of the child, or, if no juvenile court has jurisdiction over the child, then the juvenile court in the county in which the child resides;

(6) "Date of foster care placement" means the original date on which the child is physically placed in foster care;

(7) "Judge" means a juvenile judge or the judge having jurisdiction over the person of the child;

(8) "Parent" means the natural parent or legal guardian, except in cases when guardianship is held by an agency pursuant to a determination of abandonment or surrender of parental rights;

(9) "Plan" or "permanency plan" means a written plan for a child placed in foster care with the department of children's services or in the care of an agency as defined in subdivision (3) and as provided in § 37-2-403; and

(10) "Report" means a written report by an advisory review board as provided in § 37-2-406 or by the department of children's services or by an agency having custody of a child as provided in § 37-2-404.

T.C.A. § 37-2-402

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 613,s 4, eff. 7/1/2024.

Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 525, s 12, eff. 3/6/2020.

Acts 1976, ch. 731, § 1; 1982, ch. 811, § 1; 1983, ch. 438, §§ 1-6; T.C.A., § 37-1501(b); Acts 1996, ch. 1079, §§ 73, 112; 1997 , ch. 253, § 1; 1998, ch. 1097, §§ 13, 14; 2000, ch. 981, §§ 51, 57; 2001, ch. 388, § 5; 2009 , ch. 411, § 9; 2010 , ch. 842, § 3; 2010 , ch. 887, § 1.