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Committee moves bill limiting DCS firearm inventory requests from foster homes to Calendar and Rules
Summary
House Bill 2206, as amended, would prohibit the Department of Children's Services from demanding a detailed inventory of firearms or ammunition from foster or prospective foster parents while still allowing DCS to ask whether firearms are present and whether they are safely secured; the committee moved the bill to Calendar and Rules on a 15–4 vote.
A Tennessee House committee voted to send House Bill 2206, as amended, to the Calendar and Rules Committee after the sponsor said the measure would bar the Department of Children's Services from demanding a detailed inventory of firearms or ammunition from foster or prospective foster parents.
Representative Sherrell, sponsor of HB2206, explained that, as amended, the bill "would prohibit DCS from requesting detailed information about the number [or] type of firearms or ammo that a foster parent or prospective foster parent owns or demands access to inspect those firearms or ammo." He said the bill does not prevent DCS from asking whether firearms or ammunition are present in the home or whether they are safely secured. Sherrell said DCS had been consulted on the language and had deferred on the bill.
Representative Johnson questioned the bill's balance between privacy and child safety. She recounted concerns based on students she has worked with in foster care, saying some children have specific firearm-related traumas and that detailed information about weapons in a potential placement can be critical to safeguarding those children. "The state is responsible for their safety and their care, and you have to take an extra measure of safety when you are the state and are responsible for these kids," Johnson said.
Sherrell responded that the measure is intended to avoid requiring exhaustive lists of household property while still allowing DCS to ask whether firearms exist and how they are stored. Committee leaders argued the amendment prevents creation of a firearm registry while preserving DCS's ability to assess safety based on a child's history.
Representative Ashley moved the previous question; the motion prevailed. The committee then voted to send HB2206, as amended, to Calendar and Rules. The clerk reported the vote as 15 ayes and 4 noes.
With that action, HB2206 will proceed to the next step in the legislative process.
