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The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Legislation that would enable law enforcement agencies to assign school resource officers (SROs) to Tennessee schools that fail to request one has been scheduled for consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House K-12 Subcommittee this week.
House Bill 1664 (HB1664) is sponsored by Rep. Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill-District 92) and the corresponding Senate Bill 1715 (SB1715) is sponsored by Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald-District 28).
As introduced, this legislation “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.”
Current state law maintains that a school’s board of education must initiate assignment of an SRO.
HB1664/SB1715 would alter state law so that law enforcement can assign an SRO to a school without that school’s board of education or school board entering into a “memorandum of understanding,” a nonbinding agreement stating “each party’s intentions to take action, conduct a business transaction, or form a new partnership.”
Bill language is also included to allow an SRO appointed by law enforcement to carry a weapon on school grounds. This would not require the express written authorization of the director of schools and/or the principal of the school in question.
The absence of SROs in Tennessee schools has reportedly been an issue in recent years, specifically within the state’s second largest school district, Metro Nashville Public Schools.
To voice your support or opposition to HB1664/SB1715 as summarized above, use the information below to contact the House K-12 Subcommittee members and the Senate Judiciary Committee members prior to their scheduled meetings on Tuesday, March 12th, 2024.
House K-12 Subcommittee:
Kirk Haston (R-Chair) – rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-0750
Gino Bulso (R) – rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6808
Chris Hurt (R) – rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2134
Bryan Richey (R) – rep.bryan.richey@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3560
William Slater (R) – rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2534
Robert Stevens (R) – rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3830
Todd Warner (R) – rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4170
Mark White (R) – rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4415
Sam McKenzie (D) – rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-0768
rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov, rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bryan.richey@capitol.tn.gov, rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov, rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov, rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov, rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov
Senate Judiciary Committee:
Todd Gardenhire (R) – sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov – (615)741-6682
Sara Kyle (D) – sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4167
London Lamar (D) – sen.london.lamar@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2509
Jon Lundberg (R) – sen.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-5761
Kerry Roberts (R) – sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4499
Paul Rose (R) – sen.paul.rose@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1967
John Stevens (R) – sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4576
Brent Taylor (R) – sen.brent.taylor@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3036
Dawn White (R) – sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6853
sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov, sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov, sen.london.lamar@capitol.tn.gov, sen.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov, sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov, sen.paul.rose@capitol.tn.gov, sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov, sen.brent.taylor@capitol.tn.gov, sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee.
You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
