Tenn. Code § 49-6-804

Current through Acts 2023-2024, ch. 1069
Section 49-6-804 - Adoption of comprehensive plans
(a) Each LEA, and to the extent applicable, each public charter school, shall adopt a comprehensive district-wide school safety plan and building-level school safety plans regarding crisis intervention, emergency response, and emergency management. The plans must be developed by a district-wide school safety team and a building-level school safety team established pursuant to this part and must follow the template developed by the state-level safety team. Each district-wide school safety team and building-level school safety team shall consider including in the district-wide school safety plan or building-level school safety plan the implementation of a mobile panic alert system that is capable of connecting diverse emergency services technologies to ensure real-time coordination between multiple first responder agencies and that integrates with local public safety answering point infrastructure to transmit 911 calls and mobile activations. An LEA or public charter school having only one (1) school building shall develop a single building-level school safety plan, which must also fulfill all requirements for the development of a district-wide plan. Each district-wide school safety team and each building-level school safety team shall annually review the respective district-wide school safety plan or building-level school safety plan.
(b) Each private school and each church-related school shall adopt a building-level school safety plan regarding crisis intervention, emergency response, and emergency management. Each private school and each church-related school shall review its plan annually. By October 1, 2023, and by each October 1 thereafter, each private school and each church-related school shall provide the school's building-level school safety plan to each local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction, as well as any law enforcement agency or other emergency response organization participating in an armed intruder drill under § 49-6-807. As used in this subsection (b):
(1) "Church-related school" means a school as defined in § 49-50-801; and
(2) "Private school" means a school accredited by, or a member of, an organization or association approved by the state board of education as an organization accrediting or setting academic requirements in schools, or that has been approved by the state, or is in the future approved by the commissioner in accordance with rules promulgated by the state board of education.
(c) A meeting concerning school security, the district-wide school safety plans, or the building-level school safety plans shall not be subject to the open meetings laws compiled in title 8, chapter 44. Though closed to the general public, reasonable notice must be provided to the general public prior to such a meeting held by an LEA or a public charter school. The local board of education or public charter school governing body shall not discuss or deliberate on any issues or subjects other than school security or the school safety plans adopted pursuant to this section during such a meeting.
(d) By July 1, 2023, and by each July 1 thereafter, each LEA and public charter school shall provide the following to each local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction, the department of education, and the department of safety:
(1) The LEA's, and to the extent applicable, the public charter school's, district-wide school safety plan;
(2) The building-level school safety plan for each school in the LEA or each public charter school; and
(3) [Deleted by 2024 amendment.]
(e) Each LEA and public charter school shall also provide the school safety plans described in subsection (d) to a law enforcement agency or other emergency response organization participating in an armed intruder drill under § 49-6-807.
(f) Upon the request of a local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction, the department of education, or the department of safety, the LEA or public charter school shall provide any other plans, information, or records regarding school security.
(g)
(1) During a drill or in an emergency situation, each LEA or public charter school shall, to the greatest extent practicable, provide a responding law enforcement agency with access to security systems that may be required for the law enforcement agency's response.
(2) For purposes of this subsection (g), "security systems" includes, but is not limited to, audio recording systems, visual recording systems, and any other cameras, alarm systems, fire systems, communication systems, or other security measures in a school building.
(h) This section does not diminish the jurisdiction of local law enforcement agencies.
(i) Each LEA and public charter school may provide, in an electronic or digital format, school mapping data for each school building in the LEA, and for each school building being used by the public charter school, as applicable, to assist first responder agencies that serve the same geographical areas served by the LEA or public charter school in responding to emergencies occurring on school grounds. Grant funds received pursuant to § 49-6-811 may be used to meet the requirement of this subsection (i), including, but not limited to, the LEA's or public charter school's procurement of a vendor to collect, assemble, and provide the school mapping data required in this subsection (i) on behalf of the LEA or public charter school. The LEA, public charter school, or vendor that collects and assembles school mapping data for purposes of this subsection (i) is responsible for providing the data to the first responder agencies that serve the same geographical areas served by the LEA or public charter school for use by such agencies in responding to emergencies occurring on school grounds. School mapping data provided pursuant to this subsection (i) must:
(1) Be viewable through software platforms used by the local, state, and federal public safety agencies that provide emergency services to the school;
(2) Be verified by the entity that collected and assembled the data for accuracy by conducting a walk-through of school buildings and school grounds;
(3) Be oriented true north when viewed;
(4) Include accurate floor plans overlaid with current, verified aerial imagery of the school campus;
(5) Contain site-specific labeling that matches the structure of the respective school buildings, including room labels, hallway names, and external door or stairwell numbers, as well as the locations of hazards, critical utility locations, key boxes, automated external defibrillators, and trauma kits;
(6) Contain site-specific labeling that matches the school roads and neighboring properties; and
(7) Be perpetually accessible to the respective LEA, public charter school, and first responder agencies that serve the same geographical areas served by the LEA or public charter school at no additional cost to authorized users.

T.C.A. § 49-6-804

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 936,s 2, eff. 5/6/2024.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 936,s 1, eff. 5/6/2024.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 864,s 2, eff. 5/1/2024.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 367, s 5, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 717, s 2, eff. 4/16/2014.
Acts 2007 , ch. 548, § 5.