HB 505 - SB 695
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
March 7, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Alan Hampton | Email: alan.hampton@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
HB 505 - SB 695
SUMMARY OF BILL: Converts the School Safety Alert Grant Pilot Program to a statewide
two-year School Safety Alert Grant Program. Removes the limit on the number of grants that may
be awarded in a fiscal year. Creates a separate fund within the General Fund to be known as the
School Safety Alert Grant Fund.
Effective July 1, 2025, requires funds remaining in the School Safety Alert Grant Pilot Fund to be
transferred to the School Safety Alert Grant Fund. Requires the DOE to prepare and submit to the
General Assembly, a report detailing all funds received and payments made through the Fund by
July 1, 2026, and by July 1, 2027. Deletes this act July 1, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
STATE GOVERNMENT
REVENUE
School Safety Alert Grant
Fund
School Safety Alert Grant
Pilot Fund
FY25-26 >$800,000 ($48,000)
FY26-27 >$800,000 ($48,000)
FY27-28 & Subsequent Years - ($48,000)
EXPENDITURES General Fund
School Safety
Alert Grant Fund
School Safety
Alert Grant Pilot
Fund
FY25-26 NET >$752,000 >$800,000 ($48,000)
FY26-27 NET >$752,000 >$800,000 ($48,000)
FY27-28 & Subsequent Years ($48,000) - ($48,000)
OTHER FISCAL IMPACT
To the extent that grants are awarded to LEAs or public charter schools, an increase in local revenue
will occur in FY25-26 and FY26-27. Any decrease in local revenue beginning in FY27-28 and
subsequent years cannot be reasonably determined.
HB 505 - SB 695 2
Assumptions:
• The proposed legislation converts the School Safety Alert Grant Pilot Program established
by Public Chapter 994 of 2024 to the statewide two-year School Safety Alert Grant
Program.
• Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-1-225(d)(3), grants awarded under the pilot program are
limited to $8,000 per school in a fiscal year and must be awarded to two schools from each
grand division of the state, for a total cost of $48,000 ($8,000 x 6 recipients).
• In FY24-25, six grants totaling $48,000 were awarded to Franklin County Schools, Christ's
Legacy Academy, Hollow-Rock Bruceton, Priest Lake Christian Academy, Sacred Heart
Cathedral School, and Gibson County Special District.
• Given that the full appropriation of $48,000 was expended, no funds will transfer to the
School Safety Alert Grant Fund.
• The proposed legislation removes language limiting the grant award to two schools from
each grand division of this state and shortens the grant issuing period from indefinite to
two years. It is assumed that the intent of the legislation is to provide funding to a
significantly higher number of schools in an expedited fashion.
• There are currently 1,860 public K-12 schools and 626 K-12 private schools, for a total of
2,486 schools.
• While it is unknown how many schools will receive grants, it is assumed that there will be at
least 100 grant recipients in each FY25-26 and FY26-27. The total amount of grants issued
in each year is estimated to exceed $800,000 (100 x $8,000).
• It is assumed that in the absence of the proposed legislation, six grants totaling $48,000
would continue to be issued in FY25-26 and subsequent years under the pilot program.
• The net increase in state expenditures from the General Fund is estimated to exceed
$752,000 ($800,000 - $48,000) in each FY25-26 and FY26-27.
• The increase in revenue to and expenditures from the School Safety Alert Grant Fund will
exceed $800,000 in each FY25-26 and FY26-27.
• The recurring decrease in revenue to and expenditures from the School Safety Alert Grant
Pilot Fund is estimated to be $48,000, beginning in FY25-26.
• To the extent that grants are awarded to LEAs or public charter schools, an increase in local
revenue will occur in FY25-26 and FY26-27. Any decrease in local revenue following the
termination of the grant program cannot be reasonably determined.
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director