House Bill 682, also known as the "Student Comfort through Alternative Restorative Environments (CARE) Act," amends Tennessee law to provide support for students affected by acts of mass violence in schools. The bill mandates that local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools adopt policies allowing students who were enrolled at the time of such incidents to participate in virtual education programs for at least thirty-one calendar days following the resumption of in-person learning. This participation is voluntary and can be requested by the student’s parent, guardian, or the student themselves if they are at least eighteen years old. The bill ensures that students participating in these programs are not penalized academically and are eligible for counseling and mental health resources.

Additionally, the bill introduces a requirement for LEAs to provide remote instruction for a minimum of thirty-one calendar days to students enrolled at the time of a mass violence incident. Similar to the virtual education program, participation in remote instruction is voluntary and must be requested by the appropriate guardians. The definitions of "mass violence" and "remote instruction" are clarified within the bill, ensuring that students affected by such traumatic events receive the necessary support without facing academic repercussions. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law and will apply to the 2025-2026 school year and beyond.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-16-105, 49-6-3004