House Bill 382 aims to amend various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to law enforcement-supported education programs, specifically focusing on drug abuse resistance education. The bill renames the existing program to the "Tennessee Drug Abuse Resistance Education and Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence Act" and expands the scope of programs recognized under the law to include the Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence (L.E.A.D.) program alongside the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. Key amendments include the introduction of L.E.A.D. in multiple sections, ensuring that law enforcement officers can be trained as instructors for both DARE and L.E.A.D. programs.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that it does not supersede existing comparable programs, allowing them to participate in funding for DARE and L.E.A.D. programs. It also updates terminology throughout the relevant sections to reflect the inclusion of L.E.A.D. and emphasizes the importance of anti-drug and violence education. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law, highlighting its urgency in addressing drug abuse and violence prevention in Tennessee.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-1-401, 49-1-402(a), 49-1-402, 49-1-402(b), 49-1-403, 49-1-404, 49-1-405, 49-1-406, 49-1-407, 39-17-420(f), 39-17-420