Tennessee § 37-10-209 - Distribution of materials concerning missing children — Solicitation of contributions.

§ 37-10-209. Distribution of materials concerning missing children — Solicitation of contributions.

No organization shall solicit contributions for the purpose of distributing materials containing information relating to missing children unless it complies with all of the following requirements: Such organization has been incorporated under title 48, chapters 51-68, or the nonprofit corporation law of another state prior to the time of the solicitation of contributions, or such organization is an unincorporated charitable association, trust, society, or other group; and It has been exempt from federal income taxation under 26 U.S.C. § 501(a) and described in 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10) or 501(c)(19) as now or hereafter amended, prior to the time of the solicitation of contributions. No organization that solicits contributions for the purpose of distributing materials containing information relating to missing children shall expressly state or imply in any way that it is affiliated with, or is soliciting contributions on behalf of, an organization established to assist in the location of missing children without the express written consent of that organization. Whoever violates subsection (a) or (b) is guilty of improper solicitation of contributions for missing children, which shall be punishable as a Class A misdemeanor. “Missing children” or “missing child” means a minor child who has run away from or who is otherwise missing from the home of, or the care, custody and control of, such child's parents, custodial parent, guardian, legal guardian, or other person having responsibility for the minor. Nothing in this section shall be construed as exempting any person or organization from the requirements of the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act, compiled in title 48, chapter 101, part 5. Acts 1986, ch. 759, § 1; 1989, ch. 591, §§ 1, 6. Code Commission Notes. The misdemeanor in this section has been designated as a Class A misdemeanor by authority of § 40-35-110 , which provides that an offense designated a misdemeanor without specification as to category is a Class A misdemeanor. See also § 39-11-114 . Cross-References. Penalty for Class A misdemeanor, § 40-35-111 .