Gov. Lee Signs $230 Million Dollar School Safety Bill Intended To Fortify Safety Of Tennessee Schools In Wake Of Covenant Shooting
Image Credit: Gov. Bill Lee / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Kelly M. Jackson] –
This week Governor Lee signed into law a bill that is aimed at fortifying school safety in all public schools as well as private and church affiliated schools.
HB0322/SB0274 sponsored by Representative William Lamberth (R-D44-Portland) and Senator Jack Johnson (R-D23-Williamson County) As introduced, requires the threat assessment team of each LEA to coordinate with state agencies providing services and technical assistance to local teams. – Amends TCA Section 10-7-504; Title 49, Chapter 6 and Title 62, Chapter 35.
A news release on the state website says, “Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed strong school safety legislation into law and recognized the investment of more than $230 million to strengthen safety at public and private schools across Tennessee.”
“Nothing is more important than Tennessee students and teachers returning home from school safely each day,” said Gov. Lee. “Every year since 2019, we’ve worked with the General Assembly to prioritize school safety, and this year, we’ve passed significant measures to fund an armed SRO for every public school, enhance mental health support and boost physical security at public and private schools across Tennessee.”
Primarily, the changes to current law in the bill focus the fortification of school buildings with the inclusion of additional locks on doors, more surveillance technology via security systems, doors that cannot be breached from the outside, and locks on all classroom doors.
In addition, the bill compels all schools including private and church affiliated schools to hire and have armed security guards, or Sheriff’s Resource Officers who have the appropriate training which focuses on active shooter crisis scenarios. Further, every district and every school must have school safety plans in place and those plans have to be communicated to local law enforcement agencies as well as state level education and safety departments.
Schools also will be required to perform 3 kinds of annual annual drills:
(1) Armed intruder drill, conducted in coordination with the appropriate local law enforcement agency; (2) Incident command drill without students present to prepare school staff and law enforcement agencies on what to expect in the event of an emergency situation in the school; and (3) Emergency safety bus drill without students present to prepare school staff and law enforcement agencies on what to expect in the event of an emergency situation on a school bus.
The language in the bill requires that the results of a drill conducted must be maintained by the school for a minimum of five years and must be made available to a local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction, the department of education, or the department of safety upon request.
Finally, both a Threat Assessment Team and the Tennessee School Safety Center will be established to provide additional threat assessment information as well as greater access to training.
The act took effect upon becoming law, which was as soon as Governor Lee signed it.
The special session for further discussion of public safety will commence August 21st.
About the Author: Kelly Jackson is a recent escapee from corporate America, and a California refugee to Tennessee. Christ follower, Wife and Mom of three amazing teenagers. She has a BA in Comm from Point Loma Nazarene University, and has a background in law enforcement and human resources. Since the summer of 2020, she has spent any and all free time in the trenches with local grassroots orgs, including Mom’s for Liberty Williamson County and Tennessee Stands as a core member. Outspoken advocate for parents rights, medical freedom, and individual liberty. Kelly can be reached at kelly@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
