Tennessee § 39-17-306 - Disrupting meeting or procession.

§ 39-17-306. Disrupting meeting or procession.

A person commits an offense if, with the intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting, procession, or gathering, the person substantially obstructs or interferes with the meeting, procession, or gathering by physical action or verbal utterance. A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor. Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 2020 (2nd Ex. Sess.), ch. 3, § 14. Compiler's Notes. For the Preamble to the act concerning a uniform framework of laws that will protect the rights of all Tennesseans to peacefully demonstrate, see Acts 2020 (2nd Ex. Sess.), ch. 3. 2020 (2nd Ex. Sess.), ch. 3, § 26 provided that the act, which amended this section, applies to offenses committed after August 20, 2020. Amendments. The 2020 (2nd Ex. Sess.) amendment by ch. 3 substituted “Class A” for “Class B” in (b). Effective Dates. Acts 2020 (2nd Ex. Sess.), ch. 3, § 26. August 20, 2020. Cross-References. Aggravated criminal trespass, § 39-14-406 . Penalty for Class A misdemeanor, § 40-35-111 . Vandalism, § 39-14-408 . Law Reviews. Tort Liability for Abusive and Insulting Language (John W. Wade), 4 Vand. L. Rev. 63 (1951). Attorney General Opinions. The capitol police have general authority to make arrests in and around the State Capitol and other state buildings. They do not need any additional authorization or approval to exercise that arrest authority on the second floor of the Capitol. As state law enforcement officers, the capitol police have authority to make arrests in or around the State Capitol regardless of whether the General Assembly is in session. No relevant statutory provision or applicable rule or regulation distinguishes between the periods during which the legislature is in session and out of session. On the other hand, sergeants-at-arms are legislative officials subject to the control of their respective legislative houses. They do not have any freestanding statutory authority to make arrests absent authorization by their respective houses. To the extent the House or the Senate authorize their respective sergeants-at-arms to make arrests, each individual house may determine whether that authority applies only during session or applies when the legislature is out of session as well. OAG 20-09, 2020 Tenn. AG LEXIS 30 (5/11/2020).