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SB 1186

Children - As introduced, authorizes a juvenile court to order a child who is accused of being delinquent or unruly and released prior to a hearing to wear a global positioning monitoring system device; if the court issues such an order, requires the entity operating the global positioning monitoring system to notify the probation officer or other entity ordered to take charge of the child if the child violates the instructions issued by the court upon release; requires students who are expelled for committing a zero tolerance offense for threatening mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity to undergo counseling and a mental health evaluation before returning to school. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39; Title 40, Chapter 11 and Title 49.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Raumesh Akbari

Allows GPS monitoring for youths awaiting hearings and requires counseling and a mental health evaluation before readmission for students expelled for mass-violence threats.

Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1186

Summary of Bill: SB 1186 (Session 114) — Tennessee

1) Purpose and Intent

  • The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to address two main areas: 1) Use of GPS monitoring for juveniles released before a delinquency/unruly hearing. 2) Mandatory counseling and mental health evaluation for students expelled under zero-tolerance threats of mass violence.
  • Overall aim: enhance supervision of at-risk youths and ensure mental health considerations are addressed before students return to school after expulsion.

2) Key Provisions

A. GPS Monitoring for Juveniles Released Pending Hearing

  • Amends T.C.A. § 37-1-128(a) to authorize a juvenile court, when appointing a person or entity to take charge of a child (per existing authority in (a)(1)), to order the child to wear a global positioning monitoring system (GPS) device while awaiting further hearing.
  • Requires the GPS monitoring entity to notify the court-appointed supervising party (probation officer or other designated entity) if the child violates release instructions.
  • Defines “global positioning monitoring system” consistent with § 40-11-152.

B. Mental Health Evaluation and Counseling for Expelled Students (Zero-Tolerance Threats)

  • Amends § 49-6-3401(g) by adding a new subchapter:
    • (g)(5)(B)(i): If a student is expelled for a zero-tolerance offense involving threatening mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity, the director of schools or head of a public charter school must require the student to undergo counseling and a mental health evaluation before returning to school, regardless of whether the expulsion term is completed.
    • (g)(5)(B)(ii): The mental health evaluation must be outpatient, conducted by a mental health agency or licensed private practitioner designated by the Commissioner of MHSS. The evaluator reports findings to the director/head of school, and the report is confidential.
    • (g)(5)(B)(iii): Costs for counseling and evaluation are borne by the student’s parents or the student (if 18 or older).

C. Technical/Conforming Amendments

  • Section 3 and Section 4 update cross-references so other statutes referencing § 49-6-3401(g)(5) point to the amended subdivision (g)(5)(A) where applicable.
  • Effective Date: July 1, 2025, and applies to actions occurring on or after that date.

3) Who is Affected

  • Juvenile defendants in delinquency/unruly cases:

    • Courts may appoint GPS monitoring for youths released before hearings.
    • GPS monitoring entities must notify designated supervisors of violations.

  • Students expelled for zero-tolerance, mass-violence threats:

    • Directors of schools and public charter school leaders must require counseling and a mental health evaluation before return.
    • Financial responsibility for evaluations and counseling falls to families (or the student if 18+).

  • Schools, mental health providers, and GPS vendors:

    • Administrative processes to implement monitoring and evaluation requirements.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective Date: July 1, 2025.
  • Application: Applies to actions and orders issued on or after July 1, 2025.
  • Implementation relies on existing court authority to appoint supervision and on state mental health services to designate evaluators.
  • Confidentiality: Evaluator reports are confidential and limited in distribution except as required by law.

5) Fiscal Impact (Summary from Analysis)

  • GPS Monitoring: Not expected to have a significant fiscal impact; existing practices and contracts suggest costs are borne by the party responsible for the child (state for some, local/private for others).
  • Mental Health Evaluations/Counseling: Potential private cost to families; state/local government impact not expected to be significant. Some families may be unable to afford costs, which could affect ability to return to school.

6) Summary of Policy Implications

  • Enhances supervision of youths released pending hearings through GPS monitoring.
  • Uses mental health evaluation and counseling as a prerequisite for readmission after serious threats, reinforcing school safety and addressing potential risk factors in students.
  • Shifts some costs to families for mental health services while preserving confidentiality of evaluations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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