Juvenile Offenders - As introduced, requires a juvenile court, upon finding a child has committed a third or subsequent delinquent act, to enter an order of restitution against the parent, legal custodian, or guardian who had custody of the child at the time of the act for the expenses incurred by any law enforcement agency in responding to and investigating the delinquent act. - Amends TCA Title 37.

HB 38 requires Tennessee juvenile courts to order parents, legal custodians, or guardians to pay restitution for police costs after a child commits a third or subsequent delinquent act. The restitution must be at least $250 for misdemeanor-level acts or $500 for felony-level acts, with a maximum of $1,000. If the parent is indigent, the court may instead require community service. This bill directly affects parents or guardians of repeat juvenile offenders, shifting costs of law enforcement responses to them for third or later offenses. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.