NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee lawmakers have signed off on a $40 million proposal to improve school safety.
The bill sailed through the House and Senate on Thursday. It now heads to Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature, where it’ll almost assuredly get his approval because his administration pitched the idea.
According to the bill, the funding would be distributed as safety grants to help pay for school resource officers and other priorities. Schools would provide matching funds to get grants.
Despite the support, multiple lawmakers have noted the money allocated is not enough to fund a school resource officer at all of Tennessee’s roughly 1,800 schools.
In Tennessee, $10 million was already budgeted for school safety for the upcoming fiscal year. Lee’s plan adds an additional $30 million to that amount.
