State Rep. Rush Bricken, R-Tullahoma, introduced the Protecting Tennessee Schools and Events Act, which establishes a pilot program offering grants to distressed and at-risk school districts for purchasing portable walk-through metal detectors. House Bill 399 aims to address security disparities among school districts. The bill’s goal is to ensure at-risk Tennessee schools have access to […]
State Rep. Rush Bricken, R-Tullahoma, introduced the Protecting Tennessee Schools and Events Act, which establishes a pilot program offering grants to distressed and at-risk school districts for purchasing portable walk-through metal detectors.
House Bill 399 aims to address security disparities among school districts.
The bill’s goal is to ensure at-risk Tennessee schools have access to essential security equipment, fostering safer environments for students, staff and visitors during school hours and extracurricular events. Currently, the bill targets low-income counties, with potential for future expansion.
“Every child, educator and visitor deserves to feel safe on school grounds,” Bricken said. “This pilot program is a crucial step toward closing the safety gap between districts and ensuring schools, particularly those in vulnerable communities, have the resources to protect their students and staff.”
House Bill 399 will provide each participating district with three metal detectors, funded by the Tennessee Department of Education. The grants will cover the equipment’s cost, installation and training. School districts will receive $16,000 per metal detector, with a total of $48,000 per district. The program will support 40 districts statewide and include data collection to evaluate its effectiveness in improving school safety.
The Education Administration Subcommittee has approved House Bill 399, and it is set for review by the Education Committee on Feb. 25.