BSB/3/17
Sponsored by Bella Casillas, B Setlich, Lennyn Prevost of Center for Creative Arts
This legislation was filed in the Safety and Homeland Security category
Presented as part of the YIG Volunteer 2024 conference
| 1 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE TENNESSEE YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Section I: Terms in this act will be defined as follows: |
| 4 | Wilderness therapy: A form of therapy targeted towards people, specifically those in youth, with |
| 5 | mental issues in which people and children are severely mistreated, neglected, and in many cases, |
| 6 | abused. These camps, set in very remote and isolated locations in the wild, have been recorded to |
| 7 | deprive people of basic resources, cause severe neglect and malnourishment, permanent trauma, |
| 8 | and death. |
| 9 | |
| 10 | Section II: |
| 11 | This bill will ensure that wilderness therapy organizations, camps, and programs across the state |
| 12 | of Tennessee are banned in order to protect the safety and well being of the people targeted by |
| 13 | this industry. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | Section III: |
| 16 | This action will result in rescuing anyone currently facing the maltreatment of wilderness therapy |
| 17 | as well as preventing future generations from enduring the emotional, physical, and mental |
| 18 | turmoil coming along with the industry. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | Section IV: |
| 21 | This implementation of this bill requires no cost. |
| 22 | |
| 23 | Section V: |
| 24 | All laws or parts of laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | Section VI: |
| 27 | Penalty if groups are found illegally participating will get a class A misdemeanor, receiving up to a |
| 28 | year in jail and a fine of at least 2500$. |
| 29 | |
| 30 | Section VII: |
| 31 | This act shall take effect no later than May 1st, 2025. |
| 32 |