AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49 and Title 68, relative to anti-choking devices.
Summary
SB1391 creates a temporary grant program administered by the Tennessee Department of Health to reimburse certain public and private entities for purchasing anti-choking devices. Eligible recipients include local education agencies, public charter schools, private schools, and medical first responders. For schools, the reimbursement is tied to one device per cafeteria; for medical first responders, it is tied to one device per emergency response vehicle used for 911 calls.
The program applies only to devices purchased on or after July 1, 2025, and is capped at $500,000 in total grants. The department must also report annually to the General Assembly on available funds, applications, and awards, and it must adopt rules defining which anti-choking devices qualify for reimbursement. The program is scheduled to sunset on July 1, 2028. The bill states that it is not an appropriation and cannot be implemented unless funds are specifically appropriated in the general appropriations act.
Impact
The bill would add a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 68 and indirectly affect Title 49 entities by creating a state reimbursement mechanism for anti-choking devices in school cafeterias and emergency response vehicles. It does not mandate purchases, but it authorizes state support for eligible entities that buy qualifying devices after the effective date, subject to appropriations and department rules. The Department of Health would gain new administrative duties, including rulemaking, grant administration, and annual reporting, while schools and first responders would be the primary beneficiaries.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests broad support, as the Senate Education Committee recommended passage with amendment by an 8-0 vote. No committee transcript is available, but the unanimous committee result indicates the bill was viewed favorably and likely as a public-safety measure. The bill’s limited funding cap, reporting requirements, and sunset date also suggest an effort to keep the program targeted and fiscally controlled.
Contention
No specific opposition is reflected in the provided materials. The main policy issues implicit in the bill are funding and implementation: the program depends on a future appropriation, the Department of Health must determine which devices are reimbursable through rulemaking, and the grant cap may limit how many schools and responders can participate. Any contention would likely center on whether the state should fund these devices, how broadly eligibility should extend, and whether the reimbursement structure is sufficient to cover needs across schools and emergency vehicles.