Bill > HB1733

This bill establishes new provisions and clarifies existing ones regarding harassment, specifically focusing on the conduct of school employees towards students. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) to define "bullying" as an act by a school employee or student that significantly disrupts a victim's educational experience, including physical harm, property damage, or reasonable fear of such, whether on or off school grounds. The bill also defines "school employee" to include those working for private schools, Local Education Agencies (LEAs), public charter schools, or other public schools, and clarifies that a "victim" in this context refers to a student when the perpetrator is a school employee. Crucially, it amends TCA Section 49-6-4503 to state that a teacher or school employee found to have committed harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyberbullying is subject to dismissal or suspension, and adds this as a reason for disciplinary action under TCA Section 49-5-501. The bill also mandates that school districts include "school employee" alongside "each student" in policies related to these offenses, and these changes will take effect on July 1, 2026, applying to acts committed on or after that date.

Education

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1733&ga=114