Local Education Agencies - As enacted, requires each board of education for an LEA that operates at least one high school to adopt and implement a policy to authorize a high school student to serve as an advisory, nonvot, the official text

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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 359

                                                    SENATE BILL NO. 161

                                                      By Hensley, Powers

                                            Substituted for: House Bill No. 1199

   By Kumar, Maberry, Hemmer, Parkinson, Glynn, Haston, Hardaway, Littleton, Clemmons, Davis

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 2, relative to boards of education.

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

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-2-202, is amended by deleting
subsection (f) and substituting instead the following:

                    (f)(1) Notwithstanding § 49-2-201 or this section to the contrary and except as provided
                    in subdivision (f)(2), each board of education for an LEA that operates at least one (1)
                    high school shall adopt and implement a policy to authorize a high school student to
                    serve as an advisory, nonvoting representative on the board during meetings that are
                    open to the public.

                              (2) Subdivision (f)(1) does not apply to a board of education that created an
                    advisory group before July 1, 2025, that consists of at least one (1) student from each
                    high school operated by the LEA and that meets on a regular basis to advise the board.

                              (3) The board may establish additional eligibility requirements for a student who
                    seeks to serve on the board as an advisory, nonvoting student representative.

                               (4) A student who serves as the advisory, nonvoting student representative is
                    not eligible for compensation or reimbursement for their service on the board.

          SECTION 2. For the purpose of adopting a policy, this act takes effect upon becoming a law,
the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public
welfare requiring it.
         SENATE BILL NO. 161

PASSED:  April 17, 2025

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                            SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

                            CAMERON sefll"'ON, SPEAKER
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

~ ~ APPROVED this                              2025
         day of

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                           BILL LEE, GOVERNOR