Plain English Breakdown
The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on how the law will affect doctors treating patients with HIV, so this information was removed.
Changes to Laws About Infectious Diseases
This bill adds an affirmative defense for people with HIV in Tennessee who follow their doctor's treatment plan and can prove this in court.
What This Bill Does
- Adds a new rule allowing someone accused of exposing others to HIV as a crime to use the fact that they were following their doctor’s advice about treating and controlling the disease as a defense in court.
Who It Names or Affects
- People with HIV in Tennessee
- Courts handling cases involving accusations of exposure to HIV
Terms To Know
- Affirmative defense
- A way for someone accused of a crime to say they should not be punished because they did something that the law says is okay.
- Preponderance of evidence
- The amount of proof needed in court cases where it’s enough if one side seems more likely to be right than wrong, but doesn’t have to prove beyond a doubt.
Limits and Unknowns
- It is not clear how this law will affect specific situations or outcomes.
- This bill has not yet been signed into law and may change before it becomes official.