AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49; Title 50 and Title 71, relative to safety training.
Summary
SB0344 requires each local education agency (LEA) and public charter school in Tennessee to ensure that at least one full-time employee at every school receives annual training in seizure safety and first aid. The training is intended to help staff respond to seizure-related emergencies involving students or other staff members. The bill also provides that if school personnel volunteer to assist with administering anti-seizure medication in an emergency under existing law, that training can satisfy the new requirement so long as it includes seizure safety and first aid.
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 49, 50, and 71 by adding a new school safety training requirement and by creating limited liability protections. It specifies that LEAs, public charter schools, and trained employees are not liable for personal injury resulting from acts or omissions in this context unless the conduct amounts to willful or wanton misconduct or gross negligence. School nurses are excluded from the definition of “employee” for purposes of the new requirement. The act takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill adds a new statewide mandate for public school systems and public charter schools to maintain seizure-response training coverage at each school, expanding existing school health and emergency preparedness obligations. It also interacts with current law governing volunteer administration of anti-seizure medication by allowing that training to count toward the new requirement if it includes seizure safety and first aid. In addition, it creates statutory immunity for school systems and trained employees, subject to exceptions for gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct, which may reduce exposure to ordinary negligence claims arising from seizure-response incidents.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been received favorably overall. It passed the Senate Education Committee 7-1 and then passed the Senate floor unanimously 30-0, suggesting broad bipartisan support for the measure. The available record does not include committee debate, but the voting pattern indicates general agreement that seizure safety training is a worthwhile school safety measure.
Contention
The main policy issue reflected in the bill is the balance between expanding school safety preparedness and limiting legal liability. The immunity provisions for LEAs, charter schools, and trained employees could be a point of concern for those who want stronger accountability standards, while supporters likely view the protections as necessary to encourage participation and reduce litigation risk. Another possible point of discussion is the scope of the mandate, since the bill requires at least one trained full-time employee at each school but excludes school nurses from the definition of covered employees, which may affect how schools implement compliance.