Amends TCA Title 39.

Under present law, aggravated assault against a nurse or a first responder, which includes a law enforcement officer, is a Class C felony, and is punished by a mandatory fine of $15,000 and a mandatory minimum sentence of 90 days incarceration. The defendant is not eligible for release from confinement until the defendant has served the entire 90-day mandatory minimum sentence. This bill increases the felony penalty when a law enforcement officer is the victim from a Class C felony to a Class B felony; the fine and mandatory minimum sentence will be the same as for other first responders.<br /> <br /> The offense of aggravated assault against a first responder who is discharging or attempting to discharge the first responder official duties is committed when a person knowingly commits an assault and the assault:<br /> <br /> (1) Results in serious bodily injury to the first responder;<br /> <br /> (2) Results in the death of the first responder;<br /> <br /> (3) lnvolved the use or display of a deadly weapon; or<br /> <br /> (4) lnvolved strangulation or attempted strangulation.<br />