Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 49.

This bill requires each local education agency ("LEA"), public charter school, private school, and church-related school to develop a policy to direct how students, teachers, substitute teachers, and staff are to respond when a fire alarm is activated on school premises outside of a scheduled fire drill to protect students, teachers, substitute teachers, and staff in the event the fire alarm was activated due to the presence of an active shooter on school premises.<br /> <br /> This bill requires each LEA and, to the extent applicable, each public charter school, to coordinate with its district-wide school safety team and building-level school safety team to incorporate the policy developed pursuant to this bill in its district-wide school safety plan and building-level school safety plan.<br /> <br /> Finally, this bill requires that each policy developed pursuant to this bill must be implemented no later than July 1, 2024, and must be annually reviewed and updated, if necessary, to ensure that the policy reflects best practices for the safety of students, teachers, substitute teachers, and staff.<br /> <br /> ON FEBRUARY 8, 2024, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1644, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to, instead, require the following:<br /> <br /> (1) That each LEA, public charter school, private school, and church-related school develop a procedure for determining the cause of a fire alarm activation, including the potential for an active shooter event. The procedure must (i) be developed in consultation with local fire department and law enforcement officials, (ii) comply with applicable fire and building codes, and (iii) include response procedures for students and school staff, including substitute teachers and other part-time staff and school volunteers, after a determination is made regarding whether the emergency situation involves a fire, an active shooter, or other incident;<br /> <br /> (2) That each LEA, public charter school, private school, and church-related school annually train all school staff, including substitute teachers and other part-time staff and school volunteers, on the safety procedure; and<br /> <br /> (3) That each LEA, and to the extent applicable, each public charter school, coordinate with its district-wide school safety team and building-level school safety team to incorporate the procedure in its district-wide school safety plan and building-level school safety plan. Each procedure must be implemented no later than January 1, 2025, and must be annually reviewed and updated, if necessary, to ensure the procedure reflects best practices for the safety of students and school staff, including substitute teachers and other part-time staff and school volunteers.<br />