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2021 Tennessee Code
Title 49 - Education
Chapter 50 - Miscellaneous
Part 8 - Private Schools
§ 49-50-803. Handgun Carry Policy

Universal Citation:
TN Code § 49-50-803 (2021)
Learn more This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.
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    1. The board or governing entity of each private K-12 school, or the chief administrative officer if the school does not have a board or governing entity, may establish a handgun carry policy for any property on which the school is located that is owned or operated by the school and for any building or structure located on the school property.

    2. Any handgun carry policy adopted by the board or governing entity, or the chief administrative officer when appropriate, may:

      1. Prohibit the carrying or possession of a handgun on the property of, or in a building located at, the private school;

      2. Permit the carrying of handguns by persons qualified under subsection (b) on all property constituting the campus of the school and in all buildings owned or operated by the school; or

      3. Permit the carrying of handguns by persons qualified under subsection (b) in certain areas on the property of the school or in certain buildings, but prohibit the carrying in other areas or buildings.

  2. If the board or governing entity, or the chief administrative officer when appropriate, permits the possession of handguns in accordance with this section at the private school, the following rules and limitations shall apply:

    1. No person who is otherwise prohibited from possessing a handgun is permitted to carry a handgun on private school property;

    2. The person must have a valid Tennessee handgun carry permit, pursuant to § 39-17-1351; and

    3. No private institution that permits the possession of handguns on the property owned or operated by the institution pursuant to this section shall be required to post signs as required by § 39-17-1309(d).


    1. The handgun carry policy for each private school shall be reduced to writing, disseminated in a manner likely to ensure that it is known by students attending the school, the parent or guardian of each student, the faculty and other employees, and others who may go upon the grounds or enter a building on property owned or operated by the school. The policy shall be made available in the principal's office to anyone desiring a copy and distributed to the parents of children enrolled in the school by a method or methods reasonably likely to ensure dissemination of the policy, such as e-mails, text messaging, or posting on the school's website.

    2. The policy shall go into effect thirty (30) days after it is adopted and disseminated as provided in this subsection (c).

  4. If a private K-12 school does not adopt a handgun carry policy in accordance with subsection (a), then the carrying or possession of a firearm is prohibited in accordance with § 39-17-1309.

  5. The chief administrative officer shall submit a copy of the handgun carry policy for the school to the sheriff's department and, if applicable, police department with jurisdiction over the school.
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