Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
The House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee moved forward on Wednesday with legislation that will allow Tennessee schools to hire retired police officers and veterans as school resource officers.
House Bill 1899 (HB1899), sponsored by Representative Tim Rudd (R-Murfreesboro-District 34), would authorize public schools and public charter schools to hire retired law enforcement officers and honorably discharged veterans of the United States armed forces as school resource officers.
According to Rudd, the bill is a much needed one because of approximately 500 shortages of SROs in the state. Passage of the legislation would open additional pathways for larger school districts such as Metro Nashville to be better able to place an SRO in each school.
Individuals would be required by law to complete 40 hours of training, undergo both state and federal background checks, and be evaluated by a psychologist or mental health professional. The local sheriff’s office would have to authorize them to carry a gun on school grounds.
They would be considered employees of the LEA, and LEAs would have the authority to expand those requirements if desired.
With no questions on the bill, Chairman Gary Hicks (R-Rogersville-District 9) called for a voice vote. Ayes prevailed with no representatives asking to be recorded as voting against the bill.
There is a fiscal note tied to the bill that can be viewed in its entirety HERE.
Excerpt from Fiscal Note: Other Fiscal Impact – To the extent that a school chooses to employ a retired law enforcement officer or an honorably discharged veteran as an SRO, there will be a permissive increase in local expenditures of approximately $73,200 per SRO beginning FY24-25. However, a precise recurring increase in local expenditures cannot be reasonably determined.
The legislation has been placed on the April 9 calendar for the full House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.
The companion Senate Bill 2025 (SB2025), sponsored by Senator Shane Reeves (R-Bedford/Cannon/Moore/Rutherford Counties-District 14), was filed on January 25 but has not been assigned to a committee at this point.
