Senate Bill 2445 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to local education agencies, specifically focusing on the processes surrounding collaborative conferencing and the rights of professional employees. The bill deletes several subdivisions and sections, including the entirety of subdivision (b)(3) of Section 49-5-601, subsections (c)-(e) of Section 49-5-603, and the entirety of Section 49-5-605, which previously allowed local boards of education to engage in collaborative conferencing. It also modifies definitions related to "collaborative conferencing" and "representative," clarifying that representatives do not include attorneys and outlining the rights of professional employees to request meetings with local boards of education.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new subsection in Section 49-5-608, which states that the section will be repealed on July 1, 2026, but this repeal will not affect existing memoranda of understanding entered into prior to that date. The act ensures that any contracts or agreements made before July 1, 2026, remain in effect until their expiration. The overall effect of the bill is to limit the collaborative conferencing process and clarify the rights and roles of professional employees and local boards of education in Tennessee. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-5-601, 49-5-602(2), 49-5-602, 49-5-602(10), 49-5-603, 49-5-605, 49-5-606(a), 49-5-606, 49-5-606(a)(4), 49-5-606(b), 49-5-606(c)(4), 49-5-607, 49-5-608