Senate Bill 688 amends Tennessee Code Annotated to enhance the subpoena power of the state board of education. The bill specifically allows the chair of the state board, or their designee, to issue subpoenas for the appearance of individuals or the production of various items, such as documents, videos, and audio recordings. This authority is applicable in two main contexts: investigations related to the licensing of educators and accountability hearings for local education agencies or public charter schools that receive a "D" or "F" letter grade.

The bill replaces the existing language in Section 49-5-415, streamlining the process by which the state board can gather necessary evidence for its investigations and hearings. This change is intended to strengthen the board's oversight capabilities and ensure that it can effectively address issues related to educator licensing and school performance. The act is set to take effect immediately upon becoming law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-5-415