Amends TCA Title 49.

Present law provides that it is the duty of the local board of education to, among other things, adopt policies on the employment of substitute teachers. The policies must, at a minimum, address qualifications and training and must ensure substitute teachers are subject to investigation for the purpose of verifying the accuracy of criminal violation information. The policies must also prohibit hiring any substitute teacher whose records with the state department of education indicate a license or certificate currently in revoked status. This bill rewrites the above provisions entirely and provides, instead, that it is the duty of the local board of education to, among other things, adopt policies on the use of substitute teachers. The policies must, at a minimum, include the following provisions: (1) The required qualifications and training, including a requirement that substitute teachers receive annual school safety training or other instruction on emergency response procedures developed by the local board of education; (2) A requirement that all substitute teachers providing instruction are subject to background check requirements; and (3) A prohibition against employing or contracting with any substitute teacher whose records indicate a license or certificate in this state or another state currently in revoked status. This bill applies to the 2024-2025 school year and each school year thereafter. ON FEBRUARY 29, 2024, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2652, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 adds to the bill by requiring the policies on the use of substitute teachers to include a prohibition against employing or contracting with any substitute teacher whose records indicate an educator license or certificate in this state or another state currently in suspended status.