Tennessee § 36-6-408 - Parent educational seminar.

§ 36-6-408. Parent educational seminar.

In an action where a permanent parenting plan is or will be entered, each parent shall attend a parent educational seminar as soon as possible after the filing of the complaint. The seminar may be divided into sessions, which in the aggregate must not be less than four (4) hours in duration, and the minor children must be excluded from attending the seminar. The seminar must be educational in nature and not designed for individual therapy. The seminar must educate parents concerning how to protect and enhance the child's emotional development and inform the parents regarding the legal process. The seminar must include: At least one (1) thirty-minute video on adverse childhood experiences created: By the department of children's services in conjunction with the Tennessee commission on children and youth; or As part of the Building Strong Brains Tennessee public awareness campaign; and A discussion of alternative dispute resolution, marriage counseling, the judicial process, and common perpetrator attitudes and conduct involving domestic violence. The fees or costs of the educational sessions under this section, which shall be reasonable, shall be borne by the parties and may be assessed by the court as it deems equitable. Such fees may be waived for indigent persons. No court shall deny the granting of a divorce from the bonds of matrimony for failure of a party or both parties to attend the educational session. The requirement of attendance by parents at the parent educational seminar may be waived upon motion by either party and the agreement of the court upon the showing of good cause. Acts 1997, ch. 557, § 1; T.C.A., § 36-6-405 ; Acts 2000, ch. 889, § 1; 2020, ch. 710, §§ 1, 2. Compiler's Notes. Former § 36-6-408 (Acts 1997, ch. 557, § 1), concerning procedure for determining permanent parenting plan, was repealed by Acts 2000, ch. 889, § 1. Acts 2000, ch. 889, § 1, effective January 1, 2001, renumbered former § 36-6-405 as this section. Amendments. The 2020 amendment rewrote (a) which read: “(a) In an action where a permanent parenting plan is or will be entered, each parent shall attend a parent educational seminar as soon as possible after the filing of the complaint. The seminar shall educate parents concerning how to protect and enhance the child's emotional development and informing the parents regarding the legal process. The seminar shall also include a discussion of alternative dispute resolution, marriage counseling, the judicial process, and common perpetrator attitudes and conduct involving domestic violence. The program may be divided into sessions, which in the aggregate shall not be less than four (4) hours in duration. The seminar shall be educational in nature and not designed for individual therapy. The minor children shall be excluded from attending these sessions. The requirement of attendance at such a seminar may be waived upon motion by either party and the agreement of the court upon the showing of good cause for such relief.”; and added (d). Effective Dates. Acts 2020, ch. 710, § 3. June 22, 2020. Attorney General Opinions. A court has the power to order the parents to attend a parent education seminar, to compel obedience with such an order, and to punish for contempt the willful disobedience of a party to the court's order; further, although a court may not refuse to grant a divorce based on the failure of the parent(s) to attend an educational seminar, the court may consider this factor in determining the child's residential schedule and in allocating decision-making authority between the parents, OAG 00-178, 2000 Tenn. AG LEXIS 181 (11/20/00). Responsibility for establishing the parent education seminar required by the statute lies within the discretion of the circuit and chancery courts, OAG 00-178, 2000 Tenn. AG LEXIS 181 (11/20/00).