Tennessee Senate Bill SB7060

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 8/21/23

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9; Title 49 and Title 67, relative to educational expenses for school safety plans.

Impact

The legislation strongly emphasizes funding for educational safety, with an intended appropriation of $90 million for the fiscal year 2024-2025. Each qualifying school may receive a maximum of $50,000 from this fund, which is significant given the pressing concerns regarding school security in recent years. The funds will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, which may encourage prompt applications from eligible schools and districts looking to enhance their safety protocols. Additionally, the grant program serves to mitigate the financial burden that implementing such safety measures can impose on LEAs and public charter schools.

Summary

Senate Bill 7060 aims to enhance safety in public schools across Tennessee by introducing a new grant program to facilitate the establishment of school safety alert systems. Specifically, the bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated to establish the school safety alert grant fund, which is designed to support local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools in funding safety measures. The program's primary objective is to provide financial assistance, promoting the development of efficient communication systems for emergencies within public educational institutions.

Contention

While the bill's intent to improve school safety is broadly supported, there are critical considerations regarding the funding process and the zero-sum nature of grant distributions. Some educators and critics have raised concerns that a first-come, first-served allocation may favor wealthier districts with more resources to apply swiftly, potentially leaving less affluent schools at a disadvantage. Furthermore, the stipulation that unspent funds be carried forward for upcoming fiscal years could raise questions about long-term financial planning and resource allocation for the school safety initiatives dictated by the bill.