NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee lawmakers are considering a bill that would have schools suspend students while they try to tell if threats of mass violence are substantial.
HB 2487 was introduced by Rep. Chris Hurt (R - Halls) and would allow the director of schools to require students to "submit to a threat assessment" following a threat of mass violence, to determine if the threat was valid. During the assessment, the school would suspend the student.
If the school determines that a threat of mass violence is not valid, then the student could not be expelled for "committing a zero tolerance offense." However, they could still be suspended.
"Right now, the school superintendent has the authority to make a case-by-case modification to the zero-tolerance policy," said Hurt. "Under current law, LEAs have threat assessment teams ... The bill also requires threats to be reported to the local police or sheriff."
The bill passed the House K-12 Subcommittee on March 12 and is expected to be discussed in the Education Administration.
Under current law, students can be expelled for bringing a gun onto school property, assaulting an educator, having drugs on school grounds or threatening mass violence.
