Tennessee House passes bills on school safety and food insecurity grants
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A significant step towards enhancing school safety and addressing food insecurity in Tennessee's education system emerged from the recent Education Committee meeting held by the TN State Legislature.
House Bill 964, presented as a housekeeping measure, aims to streamline the implementation of a school safety bill passed in February 2023. This legislation focuses on updating terminology related to safety glass in school buildings, ensuring that no materials are inadvertently excluded from safety standards. The bill also introduces a crosswalk process for building code edits, promoting consistency among building owners, designers, and inspectors throughout the construction process. The committee unanimously approved the bill, signaling strong bipartisan support for improved safety measures in educational facilities.
In another critical discussion, House Bill 7 seeks to combat food insecurity among higher education students in Tennessee. Representative Hale introduced the Hunger Free Campus Grant program, which would allocate funds to colleges and universities to address this pressing issue. With an estimated 30% of students facing food insecurity, this initiative aims to provide essential support to those in need. The bill received unanimous backing from the committee, highlighting a collective commitment to ensuring that students have access to adequate nutrition while pursuing their education.
Additionally, House Bill 1016 addresses internet privacy for students in public charter schools. The bill mandates that these schools adopt acceptable use policies for internet access, prohibiting the tracking of students' online activities on personal devices outside of school, except during testing. This measure aims to protect student privacy while maintaining academic integrity.
These legislative efforts reflect a proactive approach by Tennessee lawmakers to enhance safety and support for students, addressing both physical security in school buildings and the critical issue of food access for college students. The unanimous votes on these bills indicate a strong commitment to fostering a safer and more supportive educational environment across the state.
House Bill 964, presented as a housekeeping measure, aims to streamline the implementation of a school safety bill passed in February 2023. This legislation focuses on updating terminology related to safety glass in school buildings, ensuring that no materials are inadvertently excluded from safety standards. The bill also introduces a crosswalk process for building code edits, promoting consistency among building owners, designers, and inspectors throughout the construction process. The committee unanimously approved the bill, signaling strong bipartisan support for improved safety measures in educational facilities.
In another critical discussion, House Bill 7 seeks to combat food insecurity among higher education students in Tennessee. Representative Hale introduced the Hunger Free Campus Grant program, which would allocate funds to colleges and universities to address this pressing issue. With an estimated 30% of students facing food insecurity, this initiative aims to provide essential support to those in need. The bill received unanimous backing from the committee, highlighting a collective commitment to ensuring that students have access to adequate nutrition while pursuing their education.
Additionally, House Bill 1016 addresses internet privacy for students in public charter schools. The bill mandates that these schools adopt acceptable use policies for internet access, prohibiting the tracking of students' online activities on personal devices outside of school, except during testing. This measure aims to protect student privacy while maintaining academic integrity.
These legislative efforts reflect a proactive approach by Tennessee lawmakers to enhance safety and support for students, addressing both physical security in school buildings and the critical issue of food access for college students. The unanimous votes on these bills indicate a strong commitment to fostering a safer and more supportive educational environment across the state.
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