Bill > HB0721

This bill amends Tennessee law to create a specific criminal offense of assault against educational employees by defining the terms "educational employee" as a person employed by a school and "school" as any public or private institution teaching grades K-12. Under the proposed law, a person commits assault against an educational employee if they knowingly cause bodily injury to a school employee while the employee is performing official duties in specific contexts, such as on school grounds, during school-sponsored activities, on school-provided transportation, or at an official school bus stop. The bill elevates this type of assault to a Class E felony, which is a more serious criminal classification that typically carries potential prison time and more significant legal consequences than a misdemeanor. The new law is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, providing advance notice to schools, employees, and the public about the upcoming change in legal protections for educational employees.

Justice

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0721&ga=114