House Bill 1973, also known as Senate Bill 2106, amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to the discipline of educator licenses. The bill requires teachers to provide written notice of resignation to the director of schools at least thirty days in advance, replacing the previous language in Section 49-5-411(b). Additionally, it modifies Section 49-5-1003(b) by removing subdivision (15) and substituting it with a prohibition against engaging in conduct outlined in the newly added Section 49-5-1008.

The new Section 49-5-1008 explicitly prohibits educators from engaging in any sexually related behavior with students or former students, regardless of consent. This includes a wide range of behaviors such as making sexual jokes, inappropriate touching, and any form of sexual advances. The section defines "former student" and mandates that any violations be reported to the state board of education, which can lead to disciplinary action against the educator's license. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law for rule promulgation purposes, while other provisions will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-5-411, 49-5-1003(b), 49-5-1003