The Tennessee House Has Passed A Bill That Will Allow Law Enforcement To Assign School Resource Officers To Schools That Have Not Entered Into An Agreement Between The Local School Board And Law Enforcement Agency To Provide The Service.
Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Rebecca Scott] –
The Tennessee House has passed a school SRO bill with a vote of 86 to 10.
House Bill 1664 (HB1664), was substituted with the Senate version of the bill, Senate Bill 1715 (SB1715) which, in summary, reads, “As introduced, authorizes a law enforcement agency to assign a law enforcement officer to serve as a school resource officer at a school within a local board of education’s control that has not entered into a memorandum of understanding with a law enforcement agency to assign a school resource officer to the school. – Amends TCA Title 8; Title 37; Title 38; Title 49 and Title 62.”
Sponsored by Representative Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill-District 92), this bill would amend current law by allowing SROs to be assigned to schools without there being a “memorandum of understanding” between the law enforcement agency and the local board of education.
In such cases, law enforcement would be allowed to take control by assigning an officer and notifying the school board and the school administration.
Representative G.A. Hardaway (D-Memphis- District 93), expressed concern that this bill may allow other staff members to carry weapons.
Representative Warner reassured him that this is not the case with this bill which deals strictly with providing SROs to schools.
The bill passed along party lines with 86 votes in favor while those who voted Nay were Representatives Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville-District 51), Karen Camper (D-Memphis-District 87), John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville-District 55), Yusuf Hakeem (D-Chattanooga-District 28), Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville-District 90), Justin Jones (D-Nashville-District 52), Larry Miller (D-Memphis-District 88), Justin J. Pearson (D-Memphis-District 86), Jason Powell (D-Nashville-District 53), and Johnny Shaw (D-Bolivar-District 80.)
The Senate passed the legislation on March 26th with Democratic Senators Sara Kyle (D-Memphis-District 30) and London Lamar (D-Memphis-District 33) voting against the bill, along with Republican Senator Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol-District 4).
After the legislation is signed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Speaker Randy McNally, it will be transmitted to Governor Lee to be signed into law.
After becoming law, the Act will take effect on July 1, 2024.
Rebecca Scott is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Rebecca at Rebecca@tennesseeconservativenews.com