Senate Bill 2346 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated to enhance background investigation requirements for individuals employed or seeking employment in educational settings and child care agencies. The bill specifically prohibits hiring or retaining individuals found by the Department of Children's Services (DCS) to have committed child abuse, severe child abuse, child sexual abuse, or child neglect. It establishes a process for ensuring due process rights for these individuals before reporting findings to educational institutions. Additionally, it mandates that if an individual poses an immediate threat to children, DCS must disclose this information to relevant educational authorities.

The bill also introduces new provisions requiring compliance with the amended background check procedures for private schools and child care agencies. It allows exempt child care agencies to request reviews of potential employees to check for records of abuse or neglect. The Department of Human Services is tasked with creating a review process and form for these requests, and it may promulgate rules to ensure compliance with privacy laws. The act will take effect upon becoming law for rule promulgation purposes, while other provisions will be effective from July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-5-413, 49-6-2607(e), 49-6-2607, 49-10-1404(b), 49-10-1404, 71-3-503