Education, Curriculum - As enacted, requires public schools and public charter schools to provide instruction in child trafficking awareness and prevention to students in grades kindergarten through 12 through health edu, the official text

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                         ~tate of 'QCenne~~ee

                          PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 744

                                                  HOUSE BILL NO. 1527

                              By Representatives McCalmon, Reneau, Cepicky

                                       Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 1710

                  By Senators Johnson, Bailey, Bowling, Crowe, Rose, Seal, White

         AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to human trafficking.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

         SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-1304, is amended by deleting
subdivision (a)(13)(B), and by deleting "and human trafficking in which the victim is a child" in
subsection (d).

          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:

                    (a) As used in this section, "child trafficking" means a human trafficking offense,
          as defined in§ 39-13-314, in which the victim is less than eighteen (18) years of age.

                    (b) The course of instruction in all public schools must include child trafficking
          prevention and awareness education as a component of health education for students in
          all grades kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12).

                    (c) Using the health education standards adopted by the state board of
          education, an LEA and public charter school shall ensure that the instruction provided
          pursuant to subsection (b) is age- and grade-appropriate and advances each year
         through developmentally appropriate instruction and skill building.

                    (d) An LEA and public charter school may utilize the services of a qualified
          healthcare professional or social worker to assist in teaching child trafficking prevention
          and awareness; provided, that the qualified healthcare professional or social worker
          meets the requirements for assisting in teaching family life under§ 49-6-1303.

                    (e) By August 1, 2026, each local board of education and public charter school
          governing body shall adopt a plan to implement the requirements of this section and,
          upon the request of the commissioner of education, provide the plan to the department
          of education.

          SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to the 2026-2027 school year and subsequent school years.
         HOUSE BILL NO. 1527

PASSED:  March 16, 2026

                                         c=~,,pEXTON, SPEAKER
                                                 REPRESENTATIVES

                         A - R r < z n   ~ , ~ a Us&.
                                     '\  RANDY MCN LLY

                                         SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

/\>ci' APPROVED this j;P: day of  I      2026

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BILL LEE, GOVERNOR