A proposal that would allow parents to be fined for their child's criminal offenses is awaiting approval from Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. The GOP-dominated House recently passed a bill that permits judges to impose fines of up to $1,000 on parents or legal guardians of children who commit a second criminal offense. The bill received a 72-24 vote in the House and had previously garnered support from the Republican-controlled Senate.
Proponents of the measure argue that it is necessary to hold families accountable for their child's actions. However, Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns that the bill unfairly targets working parents with limited resources, potentially burdening them with fines they may struggle to pay.
Democratic Rep. John Ray Clemmons emphasized that criminalizing parents who are doing their best is not a solution to the issue at hand. The legislation, known as the 'Parental Accountability Act,' grants judges the discretion to order parents to pay restitution for law enforcement expenses related to their child's criminal offense. If parents are unable to pay, they may be required to perform community service instead.
Republican Rep. John Gillespie, the bill's sponsor, stated that the goal is to provide judges with a tool to ensure parents are held accountable for their children's actions. During the bill's debate, Gillespie clarified that the legislation would not apply to foster care parents, despite concerns raised by Democrats. When asked to make a last-minute adjustment to explicitly exempt foster care families, Gillespie declined.
As of now, Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, has not publicly disclosed his stance on the proposed measure.
