§ 49-6-2008 — Persons improperly on school premises - Assault upon educational personnel

Tennessee § 49-6-2008

• Jurisdiction: Tennessee
• Title: 49

Text

(a) In order to maintain the conditions and atmosphere suitable for learning, no person shall enter onto school buses, or during school hours, enter upon the grounds or into the buildings of any school, except students assigned to that bus or school, the staff of the school, parents of students and other persons with lawful and valid business on the bus or school premises. (b) Any person improperly on the premises of a school shall depart on the request of the school principal or other authorized person. (c) A violation of subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor. (d) In addition to any criminal penalty provided by law, there is created a civil cause of action for an intentional assault upon educational personnel by any person during school hours or during school functions, if the parties are on school grounds or in vehicles owned, leased or under contract by the LEA and used for transporting students or faculty. A person who commits such assault shall be liable to the victim for all damages resulting from the assault, including compensatory and punitive damages. Upon prevailing, a victim shall be entitled to three (3) times the amount of the actual damages and shall be entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs. (e) In order to maintain safety on school buses, each LEA shall post a notice in a conspicuous place on each school bus in operation by the LEA to notify others that no person shall enter onto school buses except for those authorized pursuant to subsection (a). The notice must include appropriate contact information in case of an issue on the school bus.

Legislative History

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 548,s 1, eff. 7/1/2024. Acts 1981, ch. 368, § 1; T.C.A., § 49-818; Acts 1990, ch. 783, §§ 1-3; 1998, ch. 875, § 1.