Senate Bill 2228 introduces significant amendments to the Tennessee Code Annotated, primarily targeting education regulations and procedures. The bill enhances accountability within local education agencies (LEAs) by allowing the comptroller of the treasury to remove a county's education department from the financial management system if it fails to maintain proper records and submit timely reports. It also clarifies that teachers on leave will still be considered full-time employees for certain requirements and emphasizes the importance of college, career, and military readiness in career and technical education. Additionally, the bill establishes background check procedures for contract workers and volunteers, ensuring that individuals with disqualifying records are not employed in educational settings.

Moreover, the bill creates the Office of Energy Efficient Schools (OEES) within the Department of Education, effective July 1, 2026, which will oversee an energy-efficient grant program for schools. This includes appointing a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to set guidelines and verify energy efficiencies. The bill also establishes an Energy Efficient Schools Fund to ensure that funds are allocated specifically for this purpose and do not revert to the general fund. Other amendments include changes to the structure and responsibilities of educational commissions, public charter schools, and provisions related to student rights during searches, all aimed at enhancing the operational framework and accountability of educational entities in Tennessee.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 5-21-124, 8-50-814(a)(3)(B), 8-50-814, 8-50-814(g), 49-1-202, 49-11-805, 49-1-207(c)(3), 49-1-207, 49-1-227(a), 49-1-227, 49-1-229, 4-29-248(a), 4-29-248, 49-1-301(e), 49-1-301, 49-1-305(a), 49-1-305, 49-3-106(f)(3), 49-3-106, 49-3-111, 49-5-413(a), 49-5-413, 49-5-413(b), 49-5-413(c), 49-5-413(d), 49-5-413(d)(2), 49-5-413(e), 49-5-413(f), 49-5-413(g), 49-5-413(e)(7), 49-6-1015(c), 49-6-1015, 49-6-1503(c), 49-6-1503, 49-6-2201(a)(2), 49-6-2201, 49-6-2211, 49-6-2201(h), 49-6-2201(k), 49-6-2201(l)(2), 49-6-2201(l)(4), 49-6-2201(l)(6), 49-6-2201(l)(7), 49-6-2202, 49-6-2203(d)(2), 49-6-2203, 49-6-2203(d)(3)(C)(i), 49-6-2203(d)(4), 49-6-2203(h), 49-6-2302(a), 49-6-2302, 49-6-2302(b), 49-6-3004(a)(6)(A), 49-6-3004, 49-6-3004(c)(1)(A), 49-6-3004(f), 49-6-3404, 49-6-4204(a)(2), 49-6-4204, 49-6-4205(a)(2), 49-6-4205, 49-6-4212(a)(1), 49-6-4212, 49-6-4212(a), 49-6-8103(b), 49-6-8103, 49-10-105(e), 49-10-105, 49-10-1402(3), 49-10-1402, 49-10-1403(b), 49-10-1403, 49-11-106, 49-13-105, 49-15-102(4), 49-15-102, 49-15-109(b), 49-15-109, 49-16-211(b), 49-16-211, 49-16-213, 68-204-110, 49-2-203(a)(3)(G)(vi), 49-2-203, 49-50-1001(d), 49-50-1001, 49-50-1602(f)(3), 49-50-1602, 49-50-1602(g)(5), 49-50-1803(b), 49-50-1803, 49-50-1803(e)