Criminal Offenses

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on other possible punishments beyond community service, so this was removed.

Community Service for Misuse of Official Information

This bill requires courts to order at least 30 hours of community service as part of the punishment for misuse of official information.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the law to add mandatory community service for people who misuse official information.
• Requires courts to order at least 30 hours of community service as part of the punishment.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who misuse official information will have to complete at least 30 hours of community service as part of their punishment.

Terms To Know

Misuse of Official Information

Using government information in an improper way, like for personal gain or to harm others.

Community Service

Work that helps the community and is ordered by a court as part of a punishment.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how exactly the community service will be decided or what kind of work people must do.
• It's unclear if this change will reduce misuse of official information.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 710
By Hatcher

HOUSE BILL 585
By Atchley

HB0585
002583
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
Chapter 16, Part 4, relative to misconduct
involving public servants.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-16-404, is amended by deleting
subsection (b) and substituting:
(b) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor. All violations must
be punished by at least thirty (30) hours of community service work to be determined by
the court, in addition to any other punishment authorized under § 40-35-111.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.