BSB/4/15
Sponsored by Steven Fedorov, Jeffrey Fedorov of Ravenwood High School
This legislation was filed in the Safety and Homeland Security category
Presented as part of the YIG Volunteer 2024 conference
| 1 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE TENNESSEE YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Section 1 : Terms used in this act shall be defined as follows: |
| 4 | Arming Teachers : Authorizing select teachers and staff in preschool through secondary schools to |
| 5 | carry firearms as a means of last-resort defense against active shooters, after undergoing |
| 6 | comprehensive safety and emergency response training. |
| 7 | Designated Training Programs: Specialized training courses focused on firearm safety, emergency |
| 8 | situational awareness, and crisis management, approved by the Tennessee Department of |
| 9 | Education in collaboration with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and specifically designed |
| 10 | for the school setting. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | Section 2 : The Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation |
| 13 | shall collaborate to develop a program for the voluntary arming of school teachers and staff. This |
| 14 | program will include rigorous selection criteria, extensive training beyond basic firearm handling, |
| 15 | and periodic psychological evaluations to ensure fitness for participation. |
| 16 | |
| 17 | Section 3 : Participants are required to complete a training program that includes, but is not |
| 18 | limited to, firearm safety and emergency response tailored to the educational environment. This |
| 19 | program will differ from law enforcement training, emphasizing the educators' primary role as |
| 20 | teachers with the added responsibility of emergency response only as a last resort. Certification is |
| 21 | valid for three years, with required annual refresher courses online and an in-person psychological |
| 22 | evaluation by a qualified professional. Training will encompass 20 hours of online instruction |
| 23 | focused on non-lethal conflict resolution and emergency management, and 20 hours of in-person, |
| 24 | realistic, scenario-based training specific to school security. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | Section 4 : All firearms must be stored in biometric safes within the teacher's classroom or |
| 27 | designated secure areas, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access them. Detailed |
| 28 | protocols for the secure storage and rapid accessibility of firearms, in the case of an emergency, |
| 29 | will be developed and strictly enforced. In the event a firearm is compromised, we will educate the |
| 30 | teachers in the program to effectively deal with the situation. |
| 31 | |
| 32 | Section 5 : The identities of participating teachers and staff will be confidential, known only to law |
| 33 | enforcement, select school administration members, and specifically designated school board |
| 34 | members. This approach aims to preserve the element of surprise in deterring potential threats |
| 35 | while maintaining a secure environment. |
| 36 | d. Fiscal Line |
| 37 | The estimated initial cost of implementing this Act is $1,552,308, covering certification, training |
| 38 | |
| 39 | psychological evaluations will be minimized through the use of existing resources. Funding will be |
| 40 | sourced from the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation |
| 41 | budgets. Further maintenance costs will be supplied as needed |
| 42 | |
| 43 | e. Repealing Clause |
| 44 | ALL LAWS OR PARTS OF LAWS IN CONFLICT WITH THIS ACT ARE HEREBY REPEALED to ensure |
| 45 | consistency and clarity in the legal framework governing school safety measures. (TCA Title 39, |
| 46 | Chapter 17, Part 13 and Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 8.) |
| 47 | |
| 48 | f. Effective Date |
| 49 | Section 5: This Act shall take effect from June 1st, 2024, acknowledging the urgent need for |
| 50 | enhanced security measures in schools, with the public welfare requiring it. |
| 51 |