TN HB0206

Persons involuntarily committed under Tennessee's mental health laws cannot be discharged without formal proceedings to review their eligibility for discharge under §§ 33-6-602, 33-6-705, and 33-6-706.

Chief officers must notify the committing court when a person is eligible for discharge, including the basis for the determination and any outpatient treatment plan; this determination creates a rebuttable presumption of correctness.

Court clerks must send discharge notices to the person's counsel, next of kin, relevant district attorneys general, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Courts may order a hearing within 21 days of receiving the chief officer's discharge notice, either on their own motion or at the request of the person's next of kin or a district attorney general.

Effective date: July 1, 2025.