# Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-102: Part definitions

> Tennessee · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-102

## Section

- **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-102
- **Heading:** Part definitions
- **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** TN Code / Title 40 / Chapter 39 / Section 40-39-102

## Text

As used in this part: (1) "Abuser" or "animal abuser" means a person who has been convicted in this state of committing an animal abuse offense; (2) "Animal" means a companion animal, and a "non-livestock animal", as defined in § 39-14-201 . "Animal" does not mean "livestock", as defined in § 39-14-201 , or "wildlife", as defined in § 70-1-101 ; (3) "Animal abuse offense" means: (A) Aggravated cruelty to animals, under § 39-14-212 ; (B) Animal fighting, under § 39-14-203 , where the defendant's act constitutes a felony; and (C) A criminal offense against animals, under § 39-14-214 ; (4) "Companion animal" means any dog, defined as any live dog of the species Canis familiaris, or cat, defined as any live cat of the species Felis catus; (5) "Conviction" means a judgment entered by a Tennessee court upon a plea of guilty, a plea of nolo contendere, or a finding of guilt by a jury or the court, notwithstanding any pending appeal or habeas corpus proceeding arising from the judgment. Conviction includes a disposition of pretrial diversion under § 40-15-105 , a disposition of judicial diversion under § 40-35-313 , or the equivalent dispositions from other jurisdictions; (6) "Director" means the director of the TBI; and (7) "TBI" means the Tennessee bureau of investigation. Acts 2015, ch. 413, § 1.
As used in this part:
(1) "Abuser" or "animal abuser" means a person who has been convicted in this state of committing an animal abuse offense;
(2) "Animal" means a companion animal, and a "non-livestock animal", as defined in § 39-14-201 . "Animal" does not mean "livestock", as defined in § 39-14-201 , or "wildlife", as defined in § 70-1-101 ;
(3) "Animal abuse offense" means: (A) Aggravated cruelty to animals, under § 39-14-212 ; (B) Animal fighting, under § 39-14-203 , where the defendant's act constitutes a felony; and (C) A criminal offense against animals, under § 39-14-214 ;
(A) Aggravated cruelty to animals, under § 39-14-212 ;
(B) Animal fighting, under § 39-14-203 , where the defendant's act constitutes a felony; and
(C) A criminal offense against animals, under § 39-14-214 ;
(4) "Companion animal" means any dog, defined as any live dog of the species Canis familiaris, or cat, defined as any live cat of the species Felis catus;
(5) "Conviction" means a judgment entered by a Tennessee court upon a plea of guilty, a plea of nolo contendere, or a finding of guilt by a jury or the court, notwithstanding any pending appeal or habeas corpus proceeding arising from the judgment. Conviction includes a disposition of pretrial diversion under § 40-15-105 , a disposition of judicial diversion under § 40-35-313 , or the equivalent dispositions from other jurisdictions;
(6) "Director" means the director of the TBI; and
(7) "TBI" means the Tennessee bureau of investigation.
Acts 2015, ch. 413, § 1.

## Nearby sections

- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-101 Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-101.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-102 Part definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-102.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-103 Publication of list of persons convicted of animal abuse on TBI website - Length of time name maintained on list - Removal of name](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-103.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-104 Promulgation of rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-104.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-201 Short title - Legislative findings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-201.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-202 Part definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-202.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-203 Offender registration - Registration forms - Contents](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-203.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-204 Entering required data on SOR for verification, identification, and enforcement - Reporting to update information or registration form - Administrative costs - TBI as central repository - Tolling of registration requirements - Exemptions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-204.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-205 Creation and distribution of forms - Acknowledgement forms](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-205.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-206 Centralized record system - Reporting - Violations - Confidentiality of certain registration information - Immunity from liability - Public information regarding offenders](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-206.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-207 Request for termination of registration requirements - Tolling of reporting period - Review of decisions to deny termination of reporting requirements - Lifetime registration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-207.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-208 Violations - Penalty - Venue - Providing records for prosecution](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-208.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-209 Removing records from SOR](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-209.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-39-210 Death of offender](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-210.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C39_S40-39-102. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.