Bill > SB2055

This bill requires Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools in Tennessee to allow private pay providers, such as licensed behavior analysts or registered behavior technicians who are not employed by the school, to access students with autism spectrum disorder or developmental delays during the school day to provide private services, like applied behavior analysis, in educational settings, including classrooms, as long as these services supplement, not replace, the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) and do not disrupt the school day or the student's access to the general curriculum. Before these services can begin, parents must provide written consent and waive liability for the school arising from the provider's actions, and the provider must coordinate with the school's IEP team, sign a memorandum of understanding with the school, and adhere to background check and confidentiality requirements, while the school must provide reasonable accommodations and develop a policy for operationalizing these services, and the state department will develop guidelines to assist with implementation, with the law taking effect for the 2026-2027 school year.