HB 971 - SB 1221
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
February 15, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Alan Hampton | Email: alan.hampton@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
HB 971 - SB 1221
SUMMARY OF BILL: Authorizes a local education agency (LEA) or public charter school
to create a physical education through community service program by partnering with a community
organization to provide students in grades nine through twelve (9-12) with the opportunity to earn
one-half credit in physical education by completing yardwork projects for older persons and persons
with disabilities within the community served by the LEA or public charter school. Authorizes an
LEA or public charter school to allow a student to participate in the program for no more than one
class period per school day.
Establishes requirements for students, parents, community service programs, and LEAs and public
charter schools electing to participate in a physical education through community service program.
Requires a participating LEA or public charter school to collect student surveys and submit certain
information related to the physical education through community service program in an annual
report to the Department of Education.
FISCAL IMPACT:
OTHER FISCAL IMPACT
If an LEA or public charter school elects to create a physical education through community service
program, a permissive increase in local expenditures may occur. However, due to multiple
unknown factors, the extent and timing of any local fiscal impact cannot be determined with
certainty.
Assumptions:
• The proposed legislation authorizes an LEA or public charter school to create a physical
education through community service program and authorizes the one-half credit earned by
the student to be counted toward the graduation requirements established by the State
Board of Education.
• Each community service agreement that an LEA or public charter school may enter into
will vary by location and be dependent upon the volume of students participating, the
frequency of daily participation, and the details agreed upon by the involved parties.
• Other factors which may affect the community service agreement and create costs for
LEAs and public charter schools include: transportation to and from the service location,
materials required to perform the service, liability insurance coverage, and legal fees related
to safety, injury, or liability waivers.
HB 971 - SB 1221 2
• The specifics of any future community service program agreement are unknown, but for
any LEA or public charter that elects to create such a program, a permissive increase in
local expenditures may occur. However, due to multiple unknown factors, the extent and
timing of any local fiscal impact cannot be determined with certainty.
• The proposed legislation requires all community service partners who will have contact with
students through the program to submit to, and complete, a criminal background check by
the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), including submitting to fingerprint
processing.
• The cost of the TBI background check and fingerprint processing will be at the expense of
the community service partner.
• The TBI will be able to comply with the requirements within existing resources, and fees
charged to applicants will offset any costs borne by the agency.
• No impact to state government.
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director