Protecting Safety of Students and Teachers at School Highlights the Week on Capitol Hill
By State Senator Page Walley
The 2024 Session of the 113th General Assembly will conclude in the next week. The main issues remaining involve passing a balanced budget, which includes changes to our franchise and excise tax structure, and school vouchers funded with public dollars. As I have previously stated, I do not believe our budget or the unproven record of vouchers warrants us approving them.
Legislation gives highly-trained school staff option to carry a concealed firearm to protect school
This past week our Senate passed legislation to give approved teachers with specialty training more tools to protect themselves and their students from an active shooter. The bill would allow authorized, full-time school faculty and staff to carry a concealed weapon on campus if certain strict requirements are met.
A faculty or staff member who qualifies to carry a concealed firearm at school must be approved by three different authorities: the principal, the director of schools, and the chief of the local law enforcement agency. If approved, that faculty or staff member must train alongside local law enforcement to complete at least 40 hours of POST-certified, hands-on training specific to school policing every year. In addition, the trained staff must pass a psychological evaluation, background check, and possess a valid Tennessee handgun carry permit.
Due to a shortage of law enforcement officers, we have over 500 schools in Tennessee without a school resource officer, despite available funding. This leaves schools vulnerable to deadly attacks, particularly in rural communities where it might take law enforcement 15 to 30 minutes to respond to an active shooter.
In the Nashville Covenant School shooting, law enforcement’s rapid response saved lives. In many of our district’s rural communities and schools, that type of rapid response from law enforcement is simply not possible. This legislation seeks to close that gap by providing a pathway for qualified school staff to carry a firearm to defend their school if necessary.
The legislation is permissive, meaning it is up to each school principal, superintendent and chief of law enforcement together to determine if it wants to allow faculty or staff to carry a weapon.
The bill now moves to Governor Lee for his signature before becoming law.
Legislation penalizes false reports of active shooter
The Senate also passed legislation last week to increase protections against the intentional false reporting of emergencies in Tennessee, often referred to as “swatting.”
The legislation would make it a Class C felony to knowingly make a false report of an active shooter and hostage situation in order to draw a large law enforcement response to a specific location. It is already illegal under state law to intentionally make a false report regarding a past, present or future bombing or fire.
The legislation now moves to the Governor’s desk for his signature.
Increasing penalties for threats of violence on school property
Another bill passed the Senate last week to strengthen the punishment for threatening to commit mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity in Tennessee.
The measure would increase the crime from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The legislation includes an exception for individuals with an intellectual disability. The bill now awaits the Governor’s signature. If signed by the Governor, the new law would take effect July 1, 2024.
Mitigating threats of violence on school property
Similarly another bill passed last week which aims to protect schools from violence. Senate Bill 1501 will give law enforcement another tool to stop students from threatening violence on school property. The proposed language will clarify the definition of school property and add “student” to existing “communicating a threat” language which currently only applies to school employees. The bill passed the Senate floor on Tuesday and now sits on the Governor’s desk and awaits his signature.
As you are aware, I try to make frequent visits throughout our district weekly to learn your views on issues. As we conclude this year’s session, I will immediately continue my frequent visits across our district in order to provide for any constituent and community needs as well as to begin to think about our 2025 legislative agenda for District 26. I am so grateful to serve as our state senator and never take it for granted. Please contact my office if I can be of assistance to you at 615-741-2368 or sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov.
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