Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-2-402 (2026)

As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

• (1) "Abuse" means the knowing infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment with resulting physical harm, pain, or mental anguish;

• (2) "Alcohol and drug prevention and/or treatment facility" means an institution, treatment resource, rehabilitation center, hospital, community mental health center, nonresidential office-based opiate treatment facility, nonresidential substitution-based treatment center for opiate addiction, DUI school, counseling center, clinic, halfway house, or other entity, by these or other names, providing alcohol and drug services; provided, that a DUI school operated by a state institution of higher education shall not be considered an alcohol and drug treatment facility for purposes of this chapter; provided, further, that "alcohol and drug prevention and treatment facility" does not include any facility otherwise licensed by the department or the department of health or approved by the department of education;

• (3) "Alcohol and drug services" includes evaluation, treatment, residential personal care, habilitation, rehabilitation, counseling, or supervision of persons with substance use disorder, or services to persons designed to prevent substance use disorder that either receive funds from the department of health or assess fees for services provided; however, a DUI school operated by a state institution of higher education is not considered alcohol and drug services for purposes of this part;

• (4) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services, the commissioner's authorized representative, or in the event of the commissioner's absence or a vacancy in the office of commissioner, the deputy commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services;

• (5) [Deleted by 2024 amendment.]

• (6) "Department" means the department of mental health and substance abuse services;

• (7) "Facility" means a treatment resource, rehabilitation center, hospital, community mental health center, counseling center, clinic, group home, halfway house or any other entity that provides a mental health service or an alcohol and drug abuse prevention and/or treatment facility;

• (8) "Licensee" means a proprietorship, a partnership, an association, a governmental agency, or corporation, that operates a facility or a service and has obtained a license under this part;

• (9) "Misappropriation of property" means the deliberate misplacement, exploitation, or wrongful, temporary or permanent use of belongings or money without consent;

• (10) "Neglect" means failure to provide goods or services necessary to avoid physical harm, mental anguish, or mental illness, which results in injury or probable risk of serious harm;

• (11)
  • (A) "Nonresidential office-based opiate treatment facility" includes, but is not limited to, stand-alone clinics, treatment resources, individual physical locations occupied as the professional practice of a prescriber or prescribers licensed pursuant to title 63, or other entities prescribing products containing buprenorphine, or products containing any other controlled substance designed to treat opiate addiction by preventing symptoms of withdrawal to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of its patients or to one hundred fifty (150) or more patients;
  • (B) For the purposes of subdivision (11)(A), "physical location" means real property on which is located a physical structure, whether or not that structure is attached to real property, containing one (1) or more units and includes an individual apartment, office, condominium, cooperative unit, mobile or manufactured home, or trailer, if used as a site for prescribing or dispensing products containing buprenorphine, or products containing any other controlled substance designed to treat opiate addiction by preventing symptoms of withdrawal;
  • (C) "Nonresidential office-based opiate treatment facility" does not include:
    • (i) A facility that meets the definition of a nonresidential substitution-based treatment center for opiate addiction;
    • (ii) A community mental health center, as defined in § 33-1-101; or
    • (iii) A federally qualified health center, as defined under §§ 1861(aa) and 1905 of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 1395x and 1396d, respectively);

• (12) "Nonresidential substitution-based treatment center for opiate addiction" or "nonresidential opioid treatment program" includes, but is not limited to, stand-alone clinics offering methadone, products containing buprenorphine such as Subutex and Suboxone, or products containing any other formulation designed to treat opiate addiction by preventing symptoms of withdrawal;

• (13) "Personal support services" means nursing consultation, education services, and other personal assistance services as defined by rule, which are provided to individuals with substantial limitation in two (2) or more major life activities in either their regular or temporary residences, but does not mean direct nursing services provided in connection with an acute episode of illness or injury;

• (14) "Reputable and responsible character" means that the applicant or licensee can be trusted with responsibility for persons who are particularly vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and financial or sexual exploitation; and

• (15) "Service" includes any activity to prevent, treat, or ameliorate mental illness, serious emotional disturbance or alcohol or drug use, which includes diagnosis, evaluation, residential assistance, training, habilitation, rehabilitation, prevention, treatment, counseling, case coordination, or supervision of persons with mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse issues, and serious emotional disturbances.

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 808,s 1, eff. 7/1/2024.

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 688,s 32, eff. 7/1/2024.

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 688,s 31, eff. 7/1/2024.

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 688,s 30, eff. 7/1/2024.

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 688,s 29, eff. 7/1/2024.

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 688,s 28, eff. 7/1/2024.

Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 309, s 3, eff. 7/1/2022.

Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 89, s 1, eff. 4/4/2019.

Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 978, s 2, eff. 7/1/2018.

Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 978, s 1, eff. 7/1/2018.

Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 912, Secs.s 1, s 2 eff. 4/27/2016.

Acts 1978, ch. 853, § 2; 1981, ch. 436, § 1; 1983, ch. 323, §§ 25, 26; T.C.A., § 33-1802; Acts 1987, ch. 143, § 1; 1987, ch. 248, § 3; 1988, ch. 828, §§ 3, 4; 1988, ch. 875, §§ 1, 2; 1989, ch. 513, §§ 1, 14; 1993, ch. 234, § 22; 1996, ch. 1074, § 1; T.C.A., § 33-2-502; Acts 2000, ch. 947, §§ 1, 6; 2001, ch. 282, § 1; 2003 , ch. 103, § 1; 2003 , ch. 242, § 2; 2009 , ch. 186, §§ 46, 47; 2010 , ch. 1100, §§ 24, 34, 35; 2011 , ch. 158, § 14; 2012 , ch. 575, §§ 1, 2; 2012 , ch. 1010, § 3.