Designation of Title VI coordinators and reporting procedures for antisemitic discrimination in public education institutions

Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-50-1803, under Prohibition of Antisemitic Discrimination in Public Educational Institutions.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-50-1803

(a) (1) By July 1, 2025, the department of education shall designate a Title VI coordinator to monitor antisemitic discrimination and harassment at public institutions of education that serve students in any of the grades kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12).(2) Each public institution of higher education shall designate a Title VI coordinator to monitor antisemitic discrimination and harassment at the public institution of higher education.

(1) By July 1, 2025, the department of education shall designate a Title VI coordinator to monitor antisemitic discrimination and harassment at public institutions of education that serve students in any of the grades kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12).

(2) Each public institution of higher education shall designate a Title VI coordinator to monitor antisemitic discrimination and harassment at the public institution of higher education.

(b) (1) All public institutions of education shall formally report incidents and complaints of antisemitic discrimination and harassment to the appropriate Title VI coordinator.(2) (A) If the public institution of education is an LEA or public charter school, then the Title VI coordinator for the LEA or public charter school shall investigate all complaints of antisemitic discrimination and harassment reported to the LEA or public charter school before formally reporting the incidents and complaints to the Title VI coordinator designated by the department of education.(B) The LEA or public charter school investigating a complaint of antisemitic discrimination or harassment must conduct the investigation in accordance with procedures outlined in chapter 6, part 45 of this title and in the policies adopted by the local board of education or public charter school governing body, as applicable.

(1) All public institutions of education shall formally report incidents and complaints of antisemitic discrimination and harassment to the appropriate Title VI coordinator.

(2) (A) If the public institution of education is an LEA or public charter school, then the Title VI coordinator for the LEA or public charter school shall investigate all complaints of antisemitic discrimination and harassment reported to the LEA or public charter school before formally reporting the incidents and complaints to the Title VI coordinator designated by the department of education.(B) The LEA or public charter school investigating a complaint of antisemitic discrimination or harassment must conduct the investigation in accordance with procedures outlined in chapter 6, part 45 of this title and in the policies adopted by the local board of education or public charter school governing body, as applicable.

(A) If the public institution of education is an LEA or public charter school, then the Title VI coordinator for the LEA or public charter school shall investigate all complaints of antisemitic discrimination and harassment reported to the LEA or public charter school before formally reporting the incidents and complaints to the Title VI coordinator designated by the department of education.

(B) The LEA or public charter school investigating a complaint of antisemitic discrimination or harassment must conduct the investigation in accordance with procedures outlined in chapter 6, part 45 of this title and in the policies adopted by the local board of education or public charter school governing body, as applicable.

(c) A Title VI coordinator designated pursuant to this section shall thoroughly investigate all complaints reported by a public institution of education. If, after reasonable investigation, the respective Title VI coordinator determines that the public institution of education has engaged in, allowed, or not sufficiently prohibited antisemitic discrimination, then the Title VI coordinator shall give written notice to the public institution of education to take the necessary actions to address the prohibited antisemitic discrimination. The public institution of education must take such necessary actions no later than sixty (60) days after the date on which the Title VI coordinator notifies the public institution of education pursuant to this subsection (c).

(d) If the Title VI coordinator determines that the public institution of education has not taken the necessary actions to address the prohibited antisemitic discrimination by the end of the sixty-day period, then the Title VI coordinator shall report their findings to the attorney general and reporter.

(e) The Title VI coordinator for:(1) The department of education shall, no later than December 31 of each year, issue an annual report on antisemitism in LEAs and public charter schools to the attorney general and reporter and to the general assembly; and(2) Each public institution of higher education shall, no later than June 30 of each year, issue an annual report on antisemitism at the institution to the attorney general and reporter and to the general assembly.

(1) The department of education shall, no later than December 31 of each year, issue an annual report on antisemitism in LEAs and public charter schools to the attorney general and reporter and to the general assembly; and

(2) Each public institution of higher education shall, no later than June 30 of each year, issue an annual report on antisemitism at the institution to the attorney general and reporter and to the general assembly.

(f) The general assembly is encouraged to conduct hearings or investigations, as deemed necessary, to assess whether a public institution of education has adequately addressed antisemitic discrimination.