Children - As introduced, adds to the definition of a dependent and neglected child a child whose parent or guardian is unable to provide care and control of the child due to circumstances beyond the parent's or guardian's control; requires this finding to be made by a court at an adjudicatory hearing. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 37.

This bill expands the legal definition of a dependent and neglected child in Tennessee to include those whose parents or guardians cannot provide care due to circumstances beyond their control. To prevent misuse, the law requires a judge to hold a specific hearing and make a formal finding that the parent's inability to care for the child is caused by factors outside their control. This change directly affects child welfare cases by clarifying when a child might be classified as neglected based on parental incapacity rather than intentional neglect. The legislation modifies existing state codes to ensure this new classification is only applied after a court verifies the specific conditions are met.